Summer Learning Loss has been identified as a real problem for lower-income students, according to the U.S. Department of Education. During summer, low-income students regress by more than two months in reading achievement while their middle-class peers make slight gains. It’s a gap that widens for low-income children each year as they progress toward graduation.
According to the Idaho Department of Education, 63 percent of low-income first graders were reading at grade level in the spring of 2013. When they returned in the fall as second graders, only 41 percent were reading at grade level.
The good news? We can do something about it! A large-scale study of elementary students in the Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk revealed that reading four to five books over the summer potentially can prevent a decline in reading achievement scores from the spring to the fall.
Your donations of new or gently used books can help. Simply drop off children’s books at one of our book drop-off locations (listed below). We will make sure your books get into the hands of local kids who really need them.
List of Donation Drop-off Sites
United Way of Idaho Falls and Bonneville County
151 N Ridge Ave #180
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
208) 522-2674
Barnes and Noble (June 15 only)
Grand Teton Mall
2300 E 17th Street Suite #1101
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
(208) 552-1452
Great Harvest Bread Co.
360 A Street
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
(208) 522-7444
1505 E. 17th Street
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
(208) 542-0812
Bank of Idaho
399 N. Capital Avenue
Idaho Falls, ID 83403
(208) 528-3014
1800 Channing Way
Idaho Falls, ID 83403
(208) 528-3044
Apple Athletic Club
2030 Jennie Lee Drive
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
(208) 529-8600
Citizens Community Bank
Taylor Crossing
900 South Utah Avenue
Idaho Falls, ID
(208)529-6805
2797 South 25th East
Ammon, ID 83406
(208) 239-8720
452 North 2nd East
Rexburg, ID 83440
(208) 356-5377
Snake River Landing Discovery Center
901 Pier View Drive Suite #104 (Next to Kool Beanz Café)
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
(208) 523-3794
Idaho Falls School District 91
690 John Adams Parkway
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
(208) 525-7504
(208) 525-7537
Idaho National Laboratory
Employees can bring books to work to donate
Albertson's
590 East 17th Steet
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
(208) 523-0950
US Bank
330 Shoup Ave
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
585 1st Street
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
1555 W Broadway
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
KeyBank
1625 Northgate Mile
Idaho Falls, ID
(208) 525-6320
501 W Broadway Street
Idaho Falls, ID
(208) 525-6200
2655 East 17th Street
Idaho Falls, ID
(208) 525-6315