To advance and promote the value of early literacy through collaborative initiatives with community partners.

STARS is dedicated to improving the early literacy landscape for children. 

​These are key facts about early literacy:

• Language and literacy skills begin developing at birth and are fostered by parents and caregivers.
• Nationally only 37.4% of babies are read to daily by their parents.
  • Data from THE STATE OF BABIES YEARBOOK:2023, published by ZERO TO THREE, Think Babies

• Enriched home learning environments and parent involvement are critical for children from low-income families to succeed in school.
• Children who do not read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma than proficient readers. 
• Research supports the national reading proficiency problem: 82% of fourth graders from low-income families and 84% of students who are from low-income families and attend high poverty schools fail to reach reading proficiency. 
• Research supports the price of failing to close the reading gap for children from low-income families is too steep in economic, social and human terms for this country to continue to pay.
  • Data from Early Warning Confirmed, A Research Update on Third-Grade Reading – written by Leila Fiester, published by The Annie E. Casey Foundation (2013)
• Post-pandemic math and reading test score results show greater divergence between students of low and high income levels. “Students at the bottom are dropping faster”.
  • “Pandemic Sets Schools Back Two Decades” New York Times article by Sarah Mervosh 9/1/2022

These are key facts about Schenectady’s early literacy profile:

• Approximately 9,031 children under age 5 live in Schenectady County, and approximately 6,000 of those children lack consistent regulated childcare.
  • Data from Brightside Up’s Restoring the Grid (2019)
• Across Schenectady County approximately 1,856 children under age 5 live in poverty with the greatest concentration residing in Schenectady City (1,300). According to data for Schenectady County, 70% of all County children under age five who live in poverty, reside in the City of Schenectady.
  • Data from SCAP’s 2021 Schenectady County Community Needs Assessment
• 77% of Schenectady City School District third grade students tested in the ‘21-’22 school year were not reading at proficiency.
  • Data from NYSED https://data.nysed.gov/
• According to survey data taken from recipients of STARS books, 98% of respondents agree they are reading more to their children since gaining access to STARS books.

There is a criticality to early literacy in the long-term economic health of Schenectady. It will take the entire village to solve the early literacy problem and STARS is working to bring the stakeholders together to find solutions.

Economic and test score data show the dire situation of the early literacy landscape across Schenectady County. Specifically, the areas of lowest literacy achievement and greatest economic need are concentrated within Schenectady City. STARS short-term focus is the area of greatest need for early literacy support. Test score and economic data will be periodically monitored for shifts and evolving Schenectady County needs for emerging literacy support. 

CURRENT INITIATIVES:

GOAL 1 – PROVIDE FREE BOOKS TO CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO THIRD GRADE

• Initiative 1 – Books for Babies at Bellevue
• Initiative 2 – STARS Book Shelves
• Initiative 3 – Community Collaborative Book Distribution

GOAL 2 – SUPPORT FAMILIES IN EARLY LITERACY EFFORTS

• Initiative 1 – Improve STARS website to serve as a literacy resource
• Initiative 2 – Determine opportunities for parent/caregiver early literacy training and create supporting materials

GOAL 3 – ENGAGE THE COUNTY TO SUPPORT EARLY LITERACY INITIATIVES

• Initiative 1 – Maintain STARS’ existing collaboration with community partners
• Initiative 2 – Increase awareness of the criticality of early literacy at community events (provide educational materials/books)
• Initiative 3 – Engage community stakeholders on vision, initiatives, education, activities, and fundraising support

GOAL 4 – INCREASE STAFF FOR STARS

• Initiative 1 – Increase volunteers and staff working for STARS

GOAL 5 – CREATE FUNDRAISING PLAN

• Initiative 1 – Ensure appropriate protocol for fundraising
• Initiative 2 – Identify potential donors

In an effort to understand the big picture of literacy, including best practices for other communities dealing with the issue, the Schenectady County Public Library embarked on a series of Community Conversations throughout 2016-17.

Using funding from a grant from the Schenectady Foundation and with the assistance of grant consultants Scot Felderman and Rosalind Kotz, the library invited specialists from Rochester, Buffalo, and New York City to speak to invited educators, literacy advocates and other local stakeholders about successful programs in those cities. The information shared and discussed was interesting and informative. It created a momentum of intent to take some small action steps in our own community.

STARS – Schenectady Takes Action for Reading Success – is the coalition of organizations who are committed to the support of early literacy, family literacy, and community literacy and who are taking action. STARS meets regularly to support collaborative efforts, both big and small, to advance and promote the value of early literacy in Schenectady.

The following organizations are committed to supporting literacy initiatives through the STARS partnership:

• Schenectady County Public Library
• Friends of SCPL
• Schenectady County Public Health Services 
• Northern Rivers 
• Ellis Medicine 
• Schenectady City School District 
• Schenectady County OCFS 
• Sycamore Collaborative

The following individuals comprise the STARS steering committee: 

• Anne Skrebutenas – Program Coordinator: Arts & Enrichment, Capital Region BOCES
• Karen Bradley – Retired Library Director & Community Literacy Champion
• Meg Levine – Community Literacy Champion
• Serena Butch – Retired Library Asst Director & Youth Services Coordinator, & Community Literacy Champion
• Kaela Wallman – Current Youth Services Coordinator at SCPL

STARS is primarily funded by the Friends of the Schenectady County Public Library. You can make a tax-deductible donation directly to STARS, or to the Friends, designating STARS as the use of your donation.

If you would like to donate to STARS directly, please fill out this form, HERE.

If you would like to donate to the FRIENDS directly, please fill out this form, HERE.

If you would like to purchase books from our Amazon Wish List, please go to the link, HERE.

To organize a book drive and donate books to STARS, please contact Kaela Wallman, HERE.

The following organizations are ongoing STARS supports: 

• 1st National Bank of Scotia
• Friends of SCPL
• MVP

The following organizations and individuals are previous STARS supports:

• ​Schenectady Foundation
• First Book
• First Reformed Church of Schenectady
• Mona Golub
• Neil Golub
• Schenectady Silhouettes
• Stewart’s Holiday Match
• Working Group on Girls
• Zonta International
• Judith Stein Family Fund
• Karen Bradley

​

Anonymous donors have also contributed valuable support.

Since 2021, the Wildwood Program has been a valuable STARS partner and has donated over 500 service hours. STARS volunteers facilitate service with Wildwood School’s Young Adult Program and Wildwood’s Adult Day Services Without Walls Groups in workforce development.

“STARS helps students & adults from Wildwood have purpose, develop vocational and social skills, and contribute to their community. At Wildwood, we wholeheartedly thank STARS for providing this opportunity that caters to people’s strengths and goals, and fulfills a vision of Community Inclusion. It is because of Community Partners like STARS that we are able to improve the overall wellbeing of students with disabilities.” 

-Bridget Chiaramonte-
Business Development Liaison
The Wildwood Programs

How does singing help children learn to read?

• Singing helps children learn new words.
• Singing slows down language so children can hear the different sounds in words and learn about syllables.
• Singing together is a fun bonding experience with your child — whether you’re a good singer or not!
• Singing develops listening and memory skills and makes repetition easier for young children — it’s easier to remember a short song than a short story.

Resources:

• https://www.storyblocks.org/
• Infant & Toddler Tips
• Preschool Tips

How does playing help children learn to read?

• Play is one of the primary ways young children learn about how the world works and learn language.
• Play helps children practice putting their thoughts into words.
• Play helps children think symbolically — that this item stands for this thing (“This box is a rocket ship!”), which helps them understand that words can stand for real objects or experiences.
• Play is how children practice becoming adults and process what they see and hear everyday.

Resources:

• Good Toys for Young Children by Age and Stage
• Play Ideas and Games
• Talking is Teaching Bundles

How does reading to your child help your child learn to read?

• It is a fact that reading together remains the single most effective way to help children become proficient readers.
• Parents who read 1 picture book with their children every day provide their children with exposure to an estimated 78,000 words each year.
• Children who enjoy being read to are more likely to want to learn to read themselves.
• Reading together develops vocabulary, comprehension, and general knowledge needed for academic success.
• Reading introduces children to “rare” words that they may not hear in everyday conversation.

Resources:

• “Helping Your Child Become a Reader” Booklet
• ​​Reading Resources including Read-Aloud Book Lists
• Free Multilingual Online Books from Unite for Literacy

How does talking help children learn to read?

• Children learn about language by listening to parents and caregivers talk and by joining in conversation.
• Talking, telling stories and stretching conversations help children learn new words, learn to express themselves and learn how to have a conversation.
• Infants and young children need to hear the language (or languages) they will eventually speak in order to learn it — so if you speak two languages at home, it is beneficial to speak both languages to your child.
• Talking to your child in the language you are most fluent in is the best way to help your child develop early literacy skills.
• Very young children can understand spoken words long before they can speak any of them — so talk to them and you will be amazed at how your child responds.
• Talking to your child about many different events, ideas and stories helps them develop the general knowledge they need to understand the content of what they will read in books when they are older.

Resources:

• Vroom Brain Building Tips
• Sesame Workshop
• Thirty Million Words® Initiative 

How does writing help children learn to read?

• Writing and reading go together! Both are ways to represent spoken words and to communicate information.
• Scribbling and drawing are forms of writing — they may not be words, but the lines and pictures your child draws mean something to them.
• Scribbling and drawing help children develop eye-hand coordination and the fine motor control they need to hold a pencil.
• As children write, they become aware that the printed letters and words have meaning. They begin to understand the purpose of reading through the process of writing.
• Writing doesn’t always have to be writing — it can be tracing in sand, playing with clay or play dough, or crinkling up newspaper to help strengthen finger muscles!

Resources:

• Writing Worksheets

Books for Babies at Ellis Medicine’s Bellevue Woman’s Center was launched in January 2023 through the Schenectady Takes Action for Reading Success (STARS) program, which is a collaborative action campaign led by SCPL to spread free and diverse children’s books throughout the city while motivating parents and caregivers to talk, read, and sing more with their children from birth. Since its inception in 2017, it has distributed more than 12,000 books through grants and private donations

Through the Books for Babies initiative, Bellevue Woman’s Center will gift new parents with a STARS book to read to their child from day one.  Each book also will be bilingual and will contain a list of best practices for shared reading, concrete tools for engaging in literacy-rich activities, and information on how to connect with the public library and other community agencies invested in early literacy.

Books for Babies at Bellevue is funded by the 1st National Bank of Scotia, along with longtime Ellis and Bellevue supporters Neil and Mona Golub, in memory of the late Jane Golub, with support from the Wildwood Program. SCPL is serving as the lead organization in securing funding, processing the books, and coordinating volunteers. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the first three years of life are the most intensive period for speech and language development. Reading aloud is one of the best ways to expose young children to language, while helping to build the child’s vocabulary, imagination and understanding of the world.

Press Coverage:

• New program at Bellevue Hospital gifts new books to new parents– WNYT
  
• #1691: Books For Babies and Universal Pre-K| The Best of Our Knowledge– WAMC
  
• Childhood literacy program launched at Bellevue– The Daily Gazette