As part of the Kansas City, Kansas Public School’s efforts to improve literacy, the district is hosting its first ever March Mayhem reading competition. This event places third graders in all of the district’s 29 elementary schools in play for the 2020 March Mayhem reading champion.

The reading competition coincides with the Big 12 Basketball Tournament and NCAA March Madness Tournament and kicked off on Fri., Feb., 28.

The total minutes read by a single school will determine their placement in the tournament. Highest scoring schools will advance each week to the Sweet 16, the Elite Eight and then the Final Four. A special event will be held for the Final Four schools at Memorial Hall in downtown Kansas City, Kansas on Fri., Apr. 3, 2020 where the championship school will be announced. In addition, the top three readers in the district will also be awarded.

“March Mayhem provides a fun and unique opportunity to encourage parents to help their child build confidence in reading skills,” said KCKPS Superintendent Dr. Charles Foust.

Parents are involved by either reading to the student, sharing reading a book with the child, or listening to their child read.

“Children’s motivation and level of academic achievement improves when parents are involved in their education,” said Foust.

Third graders were selected for the tournament because the district has a goal of having 90% of their students reading on level by 3rd grade.

Schools that advance each week will also be announced on the district’s Facebook page and live on KPRS Hot 103 Jamz! The winning 3rd grade class will be rewarded with a pizza party and ice cream bar sponsored by the Kansas Speedway.

The top three students with the highest minutes read will receive an “awesome” prize provided by the Kansas City, Kansas Foundation for Excellence.