The Million Word Challenge is a community-wide literacy campaign promoting a culture of literacy at home and academic achievement at school, culminating with the annual Feria del Libro: A Family Book Fair. The campaign helps to connect families and schools around the joy of reading “beyond the bell.” The campaign challenges students to read MILLIONS of WORDS, outside of the classroom, anytime between the months of December and May.

The campaign was created by the LAUSD-Local District 5 in 2003 and is currently carried out throughout LAUSD, other Los Angeles County school districts, and First 5 Funded organizations. This initiative is promoted by a partnership between the City of Los Angeles, First 5, Families In Schools, LAUSD, La Opinion, the Los Angeles Public Library, and other community based organizations. Also, the Million Word Challenge has enlisted the support of civic and education officials and celebrities across the city.

Each participating school will have the opportunity to select one student per track to receive a $50 gift certificate valid for purchasing books at the Feria del Libro: A Family Book Fair, held on June 7, 2008. Student winners will be announced at the end of May and be recognized by their local schools.