PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence’s mayor and the head of the school system have launched a citywide campaign to improve students’ reading skills.

Mayor Angel Taveras (tuh-VEHR'-us) and Schools Superintendent Susan Lusi (LOO'-see) kicked off the Providence Reads program at Knight Memorial Library on Wednesday. Providence Reads brings together more than a dozen businesses and organizations to help boost reading, promote school readiness, improve attendance and encourage summer learning.

The city aims to increase reading proficiency for students entering fourth grade to 70 percent by 2015. Only 46 percent of fourth graders were reading on grade level at the beginning of 2011.

Taveras says teaching kids to read is critical to putting them on a path to academic excellence and success beyond the classroom.