PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — For students at the Charles Fortes and Alfred Lima Complex in Providence, opening a book means more than just completing assigned reading. They can see and hear themselves, and their families, in the text.

“Students are really engaged and excited about reading,” Principal Tonya Costa said. “They are excited about the choices they have for literature and texts in the classroom.”

The experience is a far cry from the decades-old books the district used in previous years.

The school board last year unanimously approved a $2.8 million contract with the American Reading Company for its curriculum starting June 1, 2020 and ending Aug. 31, 2021. The curriculum is paid for with local and federal funds.

Read the full article and watch the video here.