FT. PIERCE, Fla.—Assistant Secretary of Education Laurie M. Rich and Florida Education Commissioner John Winn today highlighted the importance of reading and presented free books and toys to St. Lucie County Schools at Garden City Elementary School in Fort Pierce, Fla. The donation of about 71,000 items, provided by sponsors of the No Child Left Behind Summer Reading Achievers program, is a holiday gift to students and school libraries whose materials were destroyed by Hurricanes Jean and Frances.

"Reading is essential to a child's development and future success," U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige said. "It is important to encourage children to make reading a regular part of their lives. We are happy to give these books and educational toys to the St. Lucie students and schools that have endured the damage and destruction of the recent hurricanes."

The No Child Left Behind Summer Reading Achievers program encourages students in grades K–8 to read actively during the summer months to maintain their skills. Over the past summer, students in 11 sites around the country participated in the program and read over 384,000 books.

To participate in the Summer Reading Achievers program, students were required to read 10 age-appropriate books during the summer months and to briefly describe the books they read by completing a simple form. Prizes and certificates were awarded to successful students.

Contributing sponsors for the 2004 program include First Book, Target Stores, Scholastic, Inc., USA Football, National PTA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Communities in Schools, Inc., Verizon, Barnes and Noble, MeadWestvaco, Time, Inc. and Fisher-Price.

More information about the No Child Left Behind Act is available at www.ed.gov.

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