SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy 3rd Graders Receive Dozens of New Books to Support Literacy Growth

Canton, MS – September 12, 2025 Third grade students at SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy (SR1 CPSA) received dozens of brand-new books that will remain in their classrooms for the entire academic year. The books were given to Ms. Kathy Broome's and Mr. Caleb Caston's third grade class. These exciting additions are part of SR1’s ongoing commitment to address the growing literacy challenges facing students and to ensure every scholar has the resources they need to succeed.

At SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy, we believe literacy is the foundation of leadership. When children learn to read, they unlock the power to dream, to question, to solve problems, and to believe in themselves. That is why we carefully selected over 100 books spanning STEM, Social and Emotional Learning, and global awareness—to nurture not only sharp minds and kind hearts, but also a deeper understanding of the world around them. Below are just a few examples:

• The Wild Robot connects technology, nature, and survival in unfamiliar environments.

• Weird But True Sports and Legends of the NBA reveal how culture, science, and athletics link across the globe.

• The Color Monster and What If Everybody Said That? teach compassion and empathy, essential skills for thriving in a diverse world.

• The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be reminds each child that their uniqueness contributes to the greater human family.

• The Koala Who Could introduces resilience through an animal from another continent, sparking curiosity about life beyond our borders.

• The Magic Tree House series takes readers on adventures through history and cultures across time and place.

• Inspiring Baseball Stories for Kids and The Year We Learned to Fly blend personal resilience with universal lessons of hope and imagination.

  
  

For third graders, this moment is critical. By the end of third grade, children transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” If they fall behind here, the gap widens. But when we place books in their hands that inspire, affirm, and expand their horizons, we set them on a path toward lifelong success.

Historically in the state of Mississippi, our reading rank has always fallen at the bottom of the list. In 2013, Mississippi was ranked 49th out of 50 states in reading according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The NAEP, also known as the Nation's Report Card, was first given in 1969, and Mississippi always fell to the bottom of national rankings with most children not being able to read at their grade levels, but for social reasons they were still promoted to the next grade, falling further and further behind year after year. 

Research shows that 3rd grade is a critical benchmark for literacy development as students prepare for the fourth grade reading test because reading proficiency is strongly linked to future academic achievement. The results of the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress shows that Mississippi's Reading gains come after the state adopted reforms that target literacy and school accountability like the Literacy-Based Promotion Act of 2013. The Act, which was amended in 2016 places an emphasis on grade-level reading skills, particularly as students’progress through grades K-3. The act requires that any student scoring at the lowest achievement level in reading on the established state-wide assessment for 3rd grade will not be promoted to 4th grade unless the student qualified for a good cause exemption. Unfortunately, many students across Mississippi are still reading at a level one according to a report from the 2023-2024 Literacy-Based Promotion Act Annual Reports.

By providing access to high-interest, age-appropriate books, SR1 CPSA is creating an environment where students can practice reading not only during structured lessons but also during independent and leisure time.

These books are more than stories—they are tools of possibility. Tools that tell our scholars: You can be a scientist. You can be an inventor. You can be a leader. You can be a citizen of the world.

The new classroom library will serve as a daily resource for SR1 CPSA’s 3rd grade students, helping them strengthen reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills. By investing in literacy at this pivotal stage, SR1 is preparing students for success not only in elementary school but in higher grades, college, and beyond.

This initiative aligns with SR1’s broader mission to close achievement gaps through innovative education programs and to empower students with the knowledge and confidence needed for long-term success.