Proven, Low-Cost Reading interventions for students and families during summer and out-of-school time

Kids Read Now- a summer-focused K-5 US-based nonprofit program that sends nine self-selected books, to-keep, mailed once a week, to high-poverty students. Coupled with extensive parental engagement using texts, apps, and email to build content knowledge.
The program has served over 3 million children in 32 US states, including state-wide programs. Multiple independent studies suggest the program can eliminate the summer reading slide and boost reading scores by 2-4 months, comparable to summer schools, at just 3% of the cost.
Kids Read Now received the prestigious Innovative Program award from the Library of Congress in 2022.
Co-founder and board member Barbara Mays Lurie, MS ed. Taught music and reading to gifted and high-needs elementary students for 30 years in private and public school settings. She co-founded Kids Read Now in 2012.
Caterpillar Captions: The international (USA/UK) campaign featuring celebrity endorsers to encourage families to “turn on the subtitles” (which is free and almost universally available) whenever watching movies, shows, and video games to improve reading skills, vocabulary and comprehension. We will discuss results proven in over 40 studies and multiple countries and how the message “Switch On, Read On” with growing supporters on social media and will soon be on your lips as well!
This project also looks to improve subtitles to expand their utility and effectiveness. We will discuss initiatives where broadcasters and producers default captions/subtitles to being ON, rather than opted on. Discussion on ways and how this helps struggling readers, ESL families, be they kids, adults and multi-language learners.
Despite being globally available for decades, few educators realize its’ potential. Plus, the company is working to establish standards (Caterpillar Captions) for accuracy and readability, which improves the effectiveness of subtitles.
US Board President Leib Lurie, MBA, will lead the panel. He has 40 years of experience managing technology and social enterprise firms, twice taking firms public. He co-founded Kids Read Now in 2012 and advises a philanthropic foundation dedicated to reading, literacy, and family engagement.
BookR Kids: An AI-backed reading program that serves hundreds of thousands of K-8 children in multiple countries and languages with sophisticated, engaging, and exciting digital content, delivered for less than a dollar a month per child.
Focused on helping children develop better language and literacy skills through immersive and engaging reading experiences. BOOKR Kids was created to make learning both enjoyable and effective for young learners, fostering native and second language acquisition through interactive animated content, gamified features, and captivating storytelling.
Unlike most digital book platforms, BOOKR Kids provides unlimited access to a carefully curated library of over 1,500 titles. There are no restrictions on the number of books or active copies that children or schools can access, ensuring every learner can explore stories that spark curiosity, inspire creativity, and foster a lifelong love of reading.
CEO and co-founder Dorka Horvath, Ph.D., is the driving force behind BOOKR Kids. With a deep passion for education and innovation, she has devoted her career to creating tools that bridge the gap between traditional learning and digital technology. Under her leadership, BOOKR Kids has grown into a global platform that empowers educators, parents, and students alike.
In addition to her work in publishing and education, Dr. Horvath is a vocal advocate for women’s entrepreneurship. She actively supports initiatives that encourage young girls and women to take initiative, embrace leadership roles, and create meaningful change in their communities. Her dedication to fostering equality and opportunity resonates in her professional and personal life.
Dr. Horvath earned her Ph.D. from Corvinus University of Budapest (CUB), where she conducted research on how technology influences reading habits and learning outcomes. Her academic insights continue to shape the innovative approach of BOOKR Kids today. The Panel goal: Our shared goal is to look at low-cost programs, particularly during out-of-school time, that inspire a lifelong love for reading, believing it’s key to shaping a brighter future.
Who should attend: Pre-K through grade five educators and those focused on out-of-school time initiatives that support not just the student but the entire family with engagement tools and processes to improve literacy outcomes.
Take-away: Attendees will get
1) Free access to Comprehension building activities written for 600 different titles; available in 106 languages from Kids Read Now.
2) A Family education kit to help build the use of sub-titles.
3) Full function Family user access to the BOOKR Class IOS/Droid and PC platform.