With literacy as a prime SBISD priority, the district launched ReadSBISD in Fall 2019 as the umbrella for community-supported literacy initiatives. 

SBISD’s goal?

For all students to read on or above grade-level by 3rd grade.

Programs include: 

  • Bess the Book Bus - Gives away over 50,000 books in dozens of states across the USA each year
  • Cat in the Hat Pre-K initiative - Provides partners the opportunity to sponsor a live-action, read-a-loud of Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat at one of SBISD's six Pre-K centers
  • The Dictionary Project - Gives organizations/individuals an opportunity to put a dictionary in the hand of every 3rd grader 
  • J. Landon Short Mini Grants - Provides teachers an opportunity to apply for up to $750 in grant funds to innovate and enhance the classroom experience 
  • My Home Library - Allows every student at an elementary school to select six books to take home and keep
  • Reading Buddies - Provides volunteers the opportunity to meet weekly with a student and read 
  • Reading Roundup - Brings high-quality read alouds to 1st thru 3rd-grade classrooms twice a month