WORCESTER – Tuesday, June 18, 2024 – This summer, all Worcester Public Schools (WPS) students who will enter grades 7, 8, 9, or 10 in the fall will have free access to digital versions of their summer reading books thanks to a new partnership with the Worcester Public Library (WPL).
The students will receive free access to digital summer reading books through the Sora app on Clever. The digital books are now available for 90-day checkout at no cost to WPS students or their families.
In the past, students in these grades would choose summer reading books off a long list with numerous titles. Now, the students will all read the same texts, which will lead to more in-depth learning opportunities this fall.
“This partnership allows for unified teaching and learning and increases equitable access to literary resources,” said Rachel H. Monárrez, PhD, WPS Superintendent. “We are excited for this new summer reading initiative and grateful to our friends at Worcester Public Library.”
WPL has also stocked up on hundreds of physical copies of this summer’s required reading, which is available in regular print, large print and Spanish editions at any of its seven locations. Additionally, representatives of Worcester Public Library have distributed over 1,000 physical copies of summer reading books directly to students during school visits during the final days of school.
For students in grades K-6, Worcester Public Library will be providing material giveaways throughout the summer. Students in this age group will also be able to browse available books for free check-out on Sora.
“The library is thrilled to use its resources to benefit Worcester’s students and teachers,” said Jason Homer, Executive Director of Worcester Public Library. “We are eager to tackle accessibility issues and invest in your education.”
“This initiative is a fantastic opportunity for Worcester students, and demonstrates the power and capability of our library and community partners,” said Douglas Lord, Director of Library Services at Worcester Public Library.
For Summer Reading information by grade please visit the Summer Reading webpage.