Explanation
This ordinance authorizes Columbus City Council to enter into contract with Reading Holiday Project, Inc. to renew and expand support of the Barbershop Books program.
There is a persistent literacy achievement gap for black male schoolchildren, particularly in urban areas and low-income neighborhoods. In Franklin County, around 25% fewer black children are at or above 3rd grade reading level compared to white children. As stated in the 2015 Champion of Children report, “The gap between White males and Black males continues to widen; for the 2012-2013 high school cohort, Ohio ranked 41out of 50 states on Black male graduation rates (54% vs 84% White male graduation rate).”
Barbershop Books seeks to reduce the achievement gap by providing child-friendly reading spaces in neighborhood barbershops. In 2016, Columbus City Council and Columbus City Schools partnered to purchase 150 books and create 10 reading spaces in neighborhood barbershops.
In each barbershop, the program reached just over 30 young people per week. According to barber evaluation surveys, 73% of boys were “never reading” in their shops before the program. After the Barbershop Books program, barbers report that 91% either see boys reading daily or almost every day in their shops.
This expansion will allow 21 new barbershops to participate in the program, providing those shops with books, training, and a child-friendly reading space. These funds will also pay for a one-year book subscription for all the barbershops to replace older, worn books.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into contract with Reading Holiday Project, Inc. to renew and expand support of the Barbershop Books program; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund. ($20,750.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a persistent literacy achievement gap for black male schoolchildren, particularly in urban areas and low-income neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, Barbershop ...
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