“Real Dads Read” Enlists Police to Distribute Books to Atlanta Kids

Last week, officers from the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department piled a different kind of weapon into their patrol cars: books.

Atlanta Public Schools teamed up with Real Dads Read, an Atlanta-based arm of the non-profit Fathers Incorporated, to launch a fleet of “mobile units” to provide reading and study materials to young students during the summer months.

According to a report by Northwest Evaluation Association, COVID-19 school closures have resulted in students losing 30% of reading gains and 50% of math skills.

“We believe that this partnership will assist us in continuing to keep children reading and engaged with academic material throughout the summer,” Kenneth Braswell, CEO of Fathers Incorporated, said in a statement.

Real Dads Read works throughout Atlanta to encourage reading among elementary and middle school aged children, improve educational outcomes, and strengthen father-child bonds through reading. The program has organized book drives at barbershops throughout the city and run programs in local schools.

“When fathers are involved in the lives of their children, especially their education, children learn more, perform better in school, and exhibit healthier behavior,” the program’s website explains. “Even when fathers do not share a home with their children, their active involvement can have a lasting and positive impact. There are countless ways to be involved in your child’s education at all ages.”

Keep up the good work, y’all!