Berkshire United Way has announced a countywide, volunteer-driven early childhood initiative. The hope is to improve literacy rates across the county.
Berkshire United Way will distribute 1,200 Literacy Kit Backpacks – one for each incoming kindergartner – throughout the county.
The organization, which serves 26 communities in Berkshire County, says children need to learn how to read by the end of third grade. It says the literacy kits will provide parents with the tools needed to help build these skills.
Only 51 percent of the children in the county are reading proficiently by grade 3.
