Pinellas County School District Partnership

The St. Petersburg Times Newspaper in Education program has some exciting news! We have teamed up with Pinellas County School District to offer the Sizzlin' Summer Times Reader program. This program offers free summer newspaper subscriptions to families of students enrolled in Pinellas County public school reading classes during the year.

This Summer Times Reader Program is funded through the recent voter referendum allocation along with substantial support of the St. Petersburg Times Newspaper in Education program (NIE). The Summer Times Reader program is designed to maintain the momentum of reading initiatives that your child participated in this school year.

Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of this program?

• Eligible families who sign up to participate in the Summer Times Readers Program will receive home delivery of the St. Petersburg Times 7 days a week for 10 weeks.

• Each day of summer, there will be a special HOT SPOT reading activity designed specifically for students in the classified section
of the newspaper.

• Your child will receive a package of fun reading materials to use with the newspaper, a reader response log, and a Summer Times Reader lapel pin.

• Prizes and special discount offers will be available for participants, including tickets and discount coupons to sporting events, museums, theme parks, theaters and restaurants. Information about these specials can be found in the daily HOT SPOT.

How do I know if my family is eligible for this program?

If your child was enrolled in the Pinellas County School District at the end of the 2006-07 school year and participated in a reading class or program, you are eligible. You can call the Times NIE office at 727-893-8138 to sign up. NOTE: The Pinellas County School District will verify your child's enrollment status. If your child did not attend a PCSD school, you will be billed for the newspaper subscription.

What if I already am a subscriber to the St. Petersburg Times?

Families who already receive the Times can also participate and receive education materials. The free subscription offer is only for first-time subscribers. You can call the Times NIE office at
727-893-8138 to sign up for the free summer reading materials
and lapel pin.

My child is eligible, but we missed the sign-up. Can we
still participate?

YES! Your subscription can begin within days of signing up. All subscriptions will end on August 6, 2007.

What if we still want to continue receiving the paper after August 6?

We have great news! If they were not first-time subscribers at the beginning of the program, participating families who choose to continue receiving the paper will be eligible for a 50 percent discount on their Times home subscription.

Can reading the newspaper really help my child become a better reader?

Absolutely! Research has shown that student performance on standardized tests is positively affected by using the newspaper as a reading resource and that the combined use of the newspaper in school and at home brings an even greater increase in test scores.

What can I do to support my child's efforts?

We know that children learn best when parents are interested and involved in their education. Many parents have found that looking through and reading the newspaper is an easy, enjoyable way to read, talk and think together with their children. Seeing a parent read the newspaper every day motivates a child to want to do the same - read and learn. We hope you will sign up for this exciting offer so your family can reap the benefits of the Summer Times Reader Program.