SHAWANO, Wis. (NBC 26) -- For many kids, the often difficult process of learning to read faces new challenges.
When the pandemic disrupted school schedules, experts say the biggest impact was on the youngest readers in our community.
As we enter a new school year, districts across Northeast Wisconsin are working hard to close the learning gap created by the pandemic.
In Shawano, the empty halls of Hillcrest Primary School are waiting for a fresh start.
"Covid and virtual instruction definitely affected our ability to help support our students and provide them with the opportunity to learn and grow," Troy Edwards, Principal at Hillcrest Primary School, says.
According to multiple studies, reading skills among children stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of that learning loss has it the Shawano community hard.
"Unfortunately, we have a community that has a fair amount of economically disadvantaged children and when you're making a choice between rent or food on the table, buying books and providing books in the home may not be a high priority," Edwards adds.
According to The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, more than half of Shawano's students have been classified as economically disadvantaged.
"Our community has a great need, our families have a great need our students have a great need," says Edwards.
NBC 26, along with the Scripps-Howard Foundation, have made it our mission to get high-quality books into the hands of children in our community through our "If You Give A Child A Book..." campaign.
Click HEREto donate now
In the past two years, we have donated more than 2,000 books to two schools right here in Northeast Wisconsin: Lincoln Elementary School in Green Bay and Jefferson Elementary School in Appleton.
This year, more than ever, children need them.
"The biggest challenge is motivating kids," said Kristin Going, the Literacy Coach at Hillcrest Primary School, who has seen firsthand the impact access to books can have on a child's life. "Getting books into kid's hands and in their homes that seems to be an area that's hard to establish a love of reading," Going adds.
"Right now, I would be willing to bet there are many of our students that don't have books in their home, and so their parents aren't doing read-alouds with them," says Troy Edwards.
"If You Give A Child A Book..." campaign
The "If You Give A Child A Book..." campaign can put new books into the hands of local children, and hopefully we can one day talk more about reading leaps instead of learning loss.
"Any amount people are willing to donate is an investment in our future because these kids wouldn't have access to these books any other way," Edwards says.
Watch our 2020 "If You Give A Child A Book..." recipient below:
