New Worlds Reading Initiative
Every child deserves the opportunity to experience new worlds and achieve their full potential.
The New Worlds Reading Initiative (NWRI) is a statewide program created by the Florida Legislature to advance childhood literacy and a lifelong love of reading. Each month, New Worlds Reading delivers free books in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole to Florida public and charter school students in grades K-5 who are not yet reading on grade level.
Families also receive engaging literacy resources, activities and guides to encourage shared reading experiences and strengthen language interactions. This program is completely free for families to join, and, once enrolled, students will remain eligible for the program until they enter sixth grade.
When children are able to read books that reflect their interests—and when they can see themselves in the story—their enthusiasm for reading grows. By combining the excitement and anticipation of monthly at-home book delivery with reading resources, New Worlds Reading aims to help children develop an interest in reading and the literacy skills needed to positively impact their future.Lastinger has partnered with Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, to procure and distribute the books.
The Lastinger Center is a registered Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO) and is eligible to accept tax credit contributions to support the initiative. Under the New Worlds Reading Initiative, corporate taxpayers can make monetary contributions to the Lastinger Center and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit against select Florida taxes. Contact us at new.worlds@coe.ufl.edu for more information.
Learn more about the program, including student eligibility and enrollment, on the New Worlds Reading Initiative website.