City adds literacy requirement to parks-funded summer programs, will digitize recreation guide

City staff told council during caucus that contracts for parks-run summer and after-school programs will include a required literacy component and that the administration will coordinate with community partners to implement it.

Staff said the contracts referenced during caucus are funded through the parks department (not CDBG) and include providers such as the E Cap program, the YMCA, the JFK Center and Footlights. Staff explained the requirement is intentionally flexible: providers must describe a literacy activity but are not forced into a specific curriculum. "It can be as simple as inviting the bookmobile to come," a staff member said.

Administrators said they will convene the providers after contracts are approved to align approaches and encourage library use (for example, getting students library cards). The administration said it will seek a youth coordinator to oversee programs next year and align outcomes with Erie School District literacy goals.

To reach more residents and reduce printing costs, the city will publish its summer recreation guide digitally and distribute it through the Erie School District's ParentSquare parent-communication system; staff said printing the paper guide cost about $40,000 and the digital-first approach will allow multi-language distribution. The city will produce QR-code bookmarks that can be picked up in City Hall for residents who prefer a physical prompt.

Staff said similar literacy requirements will be added to CDBG-funded contracts when those items come forward in June, and that summer programming this year is a baseline step focusing on coordination and data collection rather than prescriptive outcomes.