Perris schools celebrate literacy gains at board meeting

By AI, Created 5:06 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Perris Elementary School District honored students, teachers and families for reading and writing achievements during a recent board meeting in Perris, California. The district highlighted thousands of reading hours and books completed as part of its Ready for Reading by 3rd Grade effort.

Why it matters: - Perris Elementary School District is tying early literacy to long-term academic success. - The district’s recognition underscores a broader push to build reading habits at school and at home. - The effort aligns with Riverside County Office of Education literacy work and the district’s Ready for Reading by 3rd Grade initiative.

What happened: - Perris Elementary School District recognized student achievement in reading and writing during a recent Board of Education meeting. - The district honored students, teachers and families for literacy engagement. - Superintendent Bruce Bivins said the recognition reflects the district’s commitment to building strong literacy foundations for every student. - Ilene Rosenthal, Footsteps2Brilliance CEO and founder, said the celebration is about building confident readers and lifelong learners.

The details: - Students were recognized for exceptional reading engagement and growth. - Young authors were honored for creating and publishing their own stories. - Teachers were recognized for leading literacy instruction in their classrooms. - Families were recognized for supporting reading at home. - The district reported 2,950 hours of reading completed. - Students read 9,616 books. - Districtwide reading reached 6,085,396 words. - Perris Elementary School District serves more than 5,500 students in preschool through eighth grade in Riverside County, California. - Footsteps2Brilliance describes itself as a bilingual literacy system that supports students from early childhood through middle school. - The company also offers a financial literacy and career readiness curriculum for 4th-8th grade students.

Between the lines: - The recognition points to a strategy that treats family participation as part of literacy instruction, not as a separate support. - The emphasis on bilingual literacy resources suggests districts in Riverside County are trying to broaden access as well as raise reading performance. - The reported reading totals are meant to show measurable engagement, not just symbolic celebration.

What’s next: - Perris Elementary School District plans to share event highlights, including photos and student stories, with the broader community. - The district is likely to keep expanding literacy programs that support early reading development. - Continued work with families and educators will remain central to the district’s literacy goals.

The bottom line: - Perris schools used the board meeting to spotlight literacy progress and reinforce a districtwide message: stronger reading habits now can translate into stronger academic outcomes later.