“This starts in the third grade,” according to Atkinson. “We need more help with our summer reading. Too many of our children don’t read over the summer and fall behind.”

Atkinson encouraged local business leaders to collect books as part of North Carolina’s Give 5 Read 5. As a part of this annual campaign, parents, business leaders and community members donate five or more new or gently used books to local elementary schools so that students have books to take home at the end of the school year.

Recent Harvard research shows reading five books helps students to better retain literacy skills over the summer.

Atkinson said districts also need to focus on Pre-K for every student. “It's imperative citizens put pressure on the the General Assembly to offer this.”

Roanoke Rapids Graded School District has been working with state universities, Halifax Community College, North Carolina Virtual Public School, and the NC School of Math and Science to offer high school students the ability to obtain college credits prior to graduation from high school.

Atkinson applauded those efforts and says she encourages schools to look beyond the traditional calendar, the 7 to 3 school day, and other ways to help students succeed.