A Trenton nonprofit is helping elementary school students improve their reading skills

The summer reading campaign was celebrated with an Aug. 29 event at Franklin Square that featured a book giveaway, a sing-along and double Dutch jump rope.

Thirty-one percent of public school students in grades 3-8 scored at or above benchmark on the Star Assessment in winter 2023-24, a 2% increase from winter 2022-23.

For decades, two schools of thought have clashed on how to best teach children to read, with passionate backers on each side of the so-called reading wars.