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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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recognize the Reach Out and Read program for its outstanding |
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efforts to ensure that young children are prepared to succeed in |
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school; and |
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WHEREAS, Reach Out and Read was developed by pediatricians |
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and early childhood educators to make literacy promotion a regular |
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part of pediatric checkups; and |
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WHEREAS, Studies have shown that exposure to books and |
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reading in the first years of life increases the probability of a |
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child's healthy development and success in school; approximately a |
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third of American children entering kindergarten lack the basic |
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language skills they need in order to learn to read, with children |
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living in poverty especially at risk; and |
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WHEREAS, Reach Out and Read addresses this problem by having |
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doctors and nurses go beyond traditional medical care to provide |
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parents with information on how to read to children at each |
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developmental stage; they further provide each young patient with |
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an age-appropriate book to take home, which serves to encourage |
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parents to make reading aloud a routine activity; and |
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WHEREAS, This exemplary program has been implemented in |
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nearly 250 clinics, hospitals, and military installations across |
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Texas and reaches more than 245,000 young Texans each year; it is |
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truly deserving of recognition for its record of success in |
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encouraging families to read together; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby commend the doctors, educators, and parents who participate |
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in the Reach Out and Read program for their exemplary work in |
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helping prepare children to succeed in school and in life; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for them |
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as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate and House of |
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Representatives. |