|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michigan
Launches
NCAA
Read to
the
Final
Four
Literacy
Program
Ahead of
2027
Final
Four in
Detroit
Parker
Sinclair
- Sports
Tell Us
Detroit
news
Bureau
DETROIT
—
Michigan
kicked
off a
major
literacy
push
this
week
with the
launch
of Read
to the
Final
Four, a
statewide
reading
challenge
tied to
Detroit’s
hosting
of the
2027
NCAA
Men’s
Final
Four.
The
program
will
involve
more
than
100,000
third‑grade
students
across
all 83
counties,
turning
reading
into a
March
Madness‑style
competition.
Classrooms
will
track
reading
minutes,
advance
through
brackets,
and
compete
for
prizes,
free
books,
and the
chance
to
attend
Final
Four
events
at Ford
Field
next
April.
Since
its
creation
in 2016,
the
initiative
has
helped
students
nationwide
log over
121
million
reading
minutes.
Detroit
Local
Organizing
Committee
CEO Dave
Beachnau
called
youth
literacy
a core
legacy
priority
for the
2027
tournament,
aligning
with the
Detroit
Sports
Commission’s
Living
Legacy
initiative.
NCAA
men’s
basketball
director
L.J.
Wright
said the
challenge
brings
“heart
and
rising
to the
occasion”
into
classrooms.
More
than
2,000
elementary
schools
are
expected
to
participate,
including
Detroit’s
Davison
Elementary,
where
third‑grade
teacher
and 2026
DPSCD
Teacher
of the
Year
Charmaine
Edwards
has
already
enrolled
her
students.
The
launch
event
featured
Detroit
Mayor
Mary
Sheffield
and
Governor
Gretchen
Whitmer,
who tied
the
program
to
statewide
literacy
efforts,
including
Whitmer’s
Every
Child
Reads
plan.
Bracket
competition
begins
in
February,
with
champions
crowned
during a
celebration
in
Detroit
on April
5, 2027.
More
details
at:
finalfourdetroit.com/read-to-the-final-four
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I
HI TECH NEWS
I
SPORTS
I
