In June, Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence President Mike Brumby announced that the foundation had decided to expand the AR program to allow anyone – parents, friends, grandparents, teachers or community members – to earn points during June and July

     The foundation offered to donate 50 cents for every point earned to the library of the reader’s choice and challenged community leaders to read as many books as possible.

     As the program neared its end last week, Brumby said he was pleased with the level of participation. “Since this was the first time we’ve done this, we really didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “But I think it’s been great.”

     The only restriction on what books may be bought is that they be Accelerated Reader books.  The Accelerated Reader program has been in place at most Tifton schools for several years and involves taking tests over approved books.  Children who participate earn prizes according to how many points they accumulate.

     Charles Spencer Elementary School had the most points donated, with 5,976 and the Tifton-Tift County Public Library was close behind with 5,036.

     Scores for other area schools were Annie Belle Clark, 1,975 ; G.O. Bailey, 2,463 ; Len Lastinger, 1,651 ; Northside, 2,130 ; Omega, 1,168 ; Matt Wilson, 3,584;  J.T. Redick, 1,252, Eight Street, 471 and Tift County High School, 3,761.

     This year’s total was almost double the number of points earned last summer, 15,407.

     Accelerated Reader and related programs are a part of the foundation’s effort to make Tifton, “The Reading Capital of the World.”