The Newspaper in Education program is a free service from The Press Enterprise

What is NIE?
Newspaper in Education, NIE, is an international program begun in 1955 to advance the use of newspapers in schools. The main purpose of the program is to improve reading, spelling and writing abilities. The Press-Enterprise has had an NIE Program for more than 20 years. The newspaper is delivered to nearly 50,000 students each year in more than 35 Inland Southern California school districts. During the school year we will provide over 1.3 million newspapers directly into students hands.

Why?
"There is substantial evidence that using newspapers in schools contributes to students’ reading skills, writing skills, and current event knowledge. The effects are most dramatic among minorities." (Edward F. DeRoche, Dean, School of Education, University of San Diego) Literacy experts believe that adults with low level literacy skills lack a sufficient foundation of basic skills to function successfully in our society. By providing schools with newspapers, sponsors can help prevent illiteracy at time when young people have a support system of educators in place. Newspapers open the world to them and give them a chance to succeed.

Who is involved?
We’re a partnership consisting of sponsors, teachers, students and The Press-Enterprise committed to the youth of our community. The Press-Enterprise absorbs all NIE administrative costs. The Press-Enterprise also offers the newspapers to schools at a special education rate. To supplement the newspapers, the NIE team assists teachers by providing curriculum guides, workshops, tours, supplemental programs, and special events such as the Spelling Bee and other competitions.

Teachers use the newspapers as textbooks and supplements in areas such as reading, writing, math, science, history, economics, language arts, special education, English as a second language and more. The newspaper can be incorporated into nearly any classroom subject and grade level from kindergarten to adult education.

Newspapers are considered the most up-to-date, inexpensive textbook available to students. The skills gained from regular newspaper exposure make each student a better learner, a better problem-solver, and a better leader.