GOVERNOR O’MALLEY AND LT. GOVERNOR BROWN TO CLOSE OUT “READ ACROSS MARYLAND” MONTH

ANNAPOLIS, MD – TODAY, Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown will close out “Read Across Maryland” month this year by visiting schools in Prince George’s County and Baltimore City.

The Governor will join Prince George’s County Schools Superintendent Dr. William Hite, Maryland State Educators Association (MSEA) President Clara Floyd, the Maryland Library Association, and the Maryland Association of School Librarians to close out “Read Across Maryland” month by visiting a “radical readers” program at Greenbelt Middle School. The school was chosen by MSEA as the pilot location for this program, which challenges the whole school to read 30 minutes for 30 days.

The Lt. Governor will read to 5^th grade students at Garrett Heights Elementary/Middle School. Garrett Heights’ mission is to provide a positive environment that is child-centered and developmentally appropriate by using an invitational approach to learning that will enable students to achieve their maximum potential.

This year marks the third “Read Across Maryland” month. For the second year in a row, the O’Malley-Brown Administration is partnering with MSEA, the Maryland Library Association and the Maryland Association of School Librarians to encourage educators, parents and children to read 30 minutes for 30 days as part of a “30 for 30” theme.

Maryland’s public schools serve as a national model for quality public education. For the third year in a row, the state’s public schools were ranked number one in the nation by Education Week Magazine. And according to the College Board, Maryland high school students rank number one in AP success for the third consecutive year. Throughout the month of March, Governor O’Malley, Lt. Governor Brown, First Lady Katie O’Malley, and members of the Executive Cabinet joined community leaders, elected officials and educators to participate in events across the state to promote the importance of reading and education.

For more information on “Read Across Maryland” month, please visit http://www.readacrossmaryland.org/.