Reading Is Fundamental: Program Overview

Program Description

This program provides books for low-income children and youths from infancy to high school age and supports activities to motivate them to read.

Types of Projects

RIF enters into agreements with local nonprofit private groups or organizations and public agencies to administer free book distributions and reading motivation activities. Federal funds provide up to 75 percent of the cost of the books, with the balance obtained from private and local sources. Migrant programs may receive up to 100 percent of their costs. In selecting projects, priority must be given to those that will serve a substantial number or percentage of children who are low-income. Priority also must be given to projects that support those at risk of school failure, those who are disabled, or those who are homeless, and those who have certain other special needs as indicated in the statute.

Additional Information

The Reading Is Fundamental/Inexpensive Book Distribution program awards an annual contract to Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF) to provide, through aid to local nonprofit groups and volunteer organizations, reading motivation activities. RIF encourages reading both inside and outside of school by allowing youngsters to select books to keep at home.

National Book Program

The National Book Program is RIF's flagship effort. It motivates children, parents, and communities to read together through a series of principles: book ownership, motivational activities, and family involvement. The goals of this program are simple: provide new, free books to children, motivate children to read, and generate community support for literacy. This program is one that works to get all members of the community involved. The National Book Program is the oldest and largest of RIF's programs. It has distributed over 250 million books to children.

Books on the Menu

Books on the Menu is a student-to-student mentoring programs where older children are paired with younger children as " book-mates". The overall mission is to increase the amount of time students spend reading and discussing books. Also, by building relationships between older and younger children, the confidence and self-esteem of the older child is increased.