At Clearfield Elementary in Rowan County, Kentucky, reading engagement is more than an academic goal—it’s a powerful tool for building connection, consistency, and community.
As a Title I school, many students face economic hardships and inconsistent attendance, which makes fostering a strong reading culture difficult. But with a spark of creativity, a commitment to literacy, and the help of Beanstack reading challenges, school leaders literally turned the page on those challenges.
A Challenge Worth Taking On
In the 2023–2024 school year, Kentucky’s chronic absenteeism rate hit 28%, according to the Kentucky State Report Card. Nationwide, the number hovered around 23%. These aren’t just statistics—they reflect real students missing valuable time in class, making it harder to learn and stay engaged.
At Clearfield, the issue was even more urgent: their chronic absenteeism rate was 33.7%. That’s when school leaders decided to try something new.
Using Reading to Spark Change
Led by library media specialist Jessica Stepp and student technology leadership program coach and Title I teacher Maria White, Clearfield introduced Beanstack reading challenges as part of a school-wide effort to increase reading motivation and improve attendance. Their goals were clear:
- Make reading more interactive and exciting.
- Engage families and build support at home.
- Use reading milestones as positive incentives for showing up and participating.
And they didn’t just hope it would work—they created a comprehensive strategy to make it stick.
Read Clearfield Elementary's full case study to learn more.
Bringing Reading Into Everyday School Life
Clearfield’s approach was multifaceted:
- Staff First: A teacher-only reading challenge helped educators explore Beanstack firsthand before launching it to students.
- Grade-Specific Introductions: Younger students were introduced to the basics, while older students got a full tutorial, complete with friendly competition through leaderboards and friend-tracking features.
- Family Connection: A welcome guide, Facebook video, and monthly newsletter helped families support reading at home.
- Visible Excitement: Posters, leaderboards, and themed monthly challenges brought Beanstack into the heart of school culture.
- Community Involvement: Local partnerships helped fund a book vending machine, where students earned tokens through reading and attendance milestones.
Motivation Through Milestones
Clearfield set a school-wide reading goal of 100 minutes per student, and had to raise the bar three times. Over 75% of students logged reading in the first week, earning the school Beanstack’s Reading Culture Trailblazer status. By the end of week two, students had logged more than 100,000 minutes of reading.
That momentum spilled over into the library. Students requested specific books, library circulation jumped, and reading turned from a task into a source of pride. As one student put it:
“In third grade, I didn’t like reading, but I do now that we have Beanstack. It’s addicting to log minutes and see how much I’ve read.”
Real Results: A Drop in Absenteeism
Perhaps most remarkably, Clearfield’s chronic absenteeism rate dropped from 33.7% to 25.1%—an 8.6% decrease in just one school year. Staff credit Beanstack with part of that improvement. The challenges gave students more motivation to attend school, more reasons to participate, and more joy in their day-to-day experiences.
What Leaders Learned
- Teacher buy-in makes a big difference: Starting with the staff helped create a ripple effect of excitement and consistency.
- Keep it visible and consistent: Embedding Beanstack into classrooms and the library made it part of daily routines.
- Different students, different motivators: Some were driven by badges and milestones; others loved earning prizes or seeing their names on the leaderboard.
Turning the Page
Clearfield Elementary’s story is a powerful reminder that reading isn’t just about books—it’s about belonging. By tying reading to recognition, community, and positive reinforcement, they built a culture where students show up, cheer each other on, and find joy in the journey.
As schools across the country grapple with attendance challenges, Clearfield proves that sometimes the solution is as simple—and transformative—as a good book.
Bring this kind of impact to your school or district
Let’s chat! Reach out to our team to learn how Beanstack can support your students’ reading journeys and boost engagement where it matters most.