Portsmouth Public Schools has been named the 2026 School District of the Year by Jumpstart, a national early education organization that provides language and literacy programming for preschool children, according to a June 2 announcement.
Jumpstart is known for creating and overseeing the “Read for the Record” event each year. The event is described as the world’s largest shared reading experience, uniting millions to read the same book on the same day in an effort to raise awareness of early literacy.
In its announcement, Jumpstart highlighted Portsmouth Public Schools’ year-long commitment to literacy in classrooms. The division’s “Symphony of Stories” initiative was specifically recognized for supporting Read for the Record. More than 160 teachers participated in ensuring that all elementary schools in Portsmouth read “See Marcus Grow” by author Marcus Bridgewater together.
“We know the critical value literacy plays in our students’ educational journeys,” said Dr. Elie Bracy, III, superintendent of Portsmouth Public Schools. “This honor showcases the tireless work of our Department of Curriculum and Instruction and, specifically, its Office of Elementary English. The team has been both strategic and intentional to find fun and engaging ways to connect our students with opportunities to build their reading and comprehension skills. I look forward to many similarly successful initiatives to come.”
As part of receiving this award, students had a virtual reading experience with Bridgewater before the end of the school year. Additionally, Portsmouth Public Schools will receive first access to select next year’s Read for the Record book.
