New Worlds Reading Initiative
The New Worlds Reading Initiative is a literacy program in Florida for eligible VPK - 5th grade students who are not reading on grade level.[1][2]
Overview
New Worlds Reading mails 9 free books[3] to enrolled students each school year, along with reading activities and resources intended to help build students' reading skills.[4] Books are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, or braille.[5] Families choose which books children receive each school year.[6] Families apply for the program online at the New Worlds Reading website.[7]
Eligibility
Students qualify for the program if they are in VPK - 5th grade in a Florida VPK program, public school, or charter schools and if they are not yet reading on grade level.[8] Income is not part of the eligibility criteria.[9]
AdministrationNew Worlds Reading was established by the Florida legislature in 2021[10] with unanimous support[11]. The program is recorded in Florida state statute 1003.485.[12] The state appointed the University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning to administer the New Worlds Reading Initiative.[13],[14] The UF Lastinger Center works with Scholastic and the Florida Department of Education to choose the books that they send out.[15]
Results?
Since 2021, New Worlds Reading has shipped 11+ million books to 470,000+ students.[16] The program's 2024 - 2025 enrollment report states that enrolled students scored up to 15% higher on their FAST reading assessment scores than eligible students who are not enrolled in the program.[17] The same enrollment report states that enrolled students had reading assessment score growth rates of up to 62%.[18]
References
- ↑ Solodev (2026-02-23). "New Worlds Reading Initiative". www.fldoe.org. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ Hernandez • •, Sophia (2025-09-29). "As reading proficiency lowers, Florida program works to bring the love of reading back". NBC 6 South Florida. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ Vasilinda, Mike (2022-01-25). "New Worlds Reading Initiative giving away books to students". https://www.wjhg.com. Retrieved 2026-02-23. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "About Us & Partners". New Worlds Reading. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ Prieur, Danielle (2024-12-03). "Florida program will send struggling readers free books to boost literacy". WUSF. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ Prieur, Danielle (2024-12-03). "Florida program will send struggling readers free books to boost literacy". WUSF. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ "Welcome to New Worlds Reading - Apply Today!". New Worlds Reading. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ "Eligibility: Check your student's status". New Worlds Reading. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ "Eligibility: Check your student's status". New Worlds Reading. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ "Governor DeSantis Celebrates the Signing of House Bill 3 and Announces $270 Million in Investments to Improve Student Literacy | Executive Office of the Governor". www.flgov.com. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ "Florida's free book program to improve reading enrolls 100,000 kids so far". Orlando Sentinel. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ "Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine". www.leg.state.fl.us. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ "Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine". www.leg.state.fl.us. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ "UF Lastinger Center's New Worlds Reading Initiative distributes 5 million books". www.floridatrend.com. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ Chase, Kristin (2022-10-03). "New Worlds Reading Initiative is providing Florida students free books and literary resources". https://www.wcjb.com. Retrieved 2026-02-23. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ Solodev (2026-02-23). "New Worlds Reading Initiative". www.fldoe.org. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ Solodev (2026-02-23). "New Worlds Reading Initiative". www.fldoe.org. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ↑ Solodev (2026-02-23). "New Worlds Reading Initiative". www.fldoe.org. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
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