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SALT LAKE CITY -- An innovative program geared toward helping Utah's youngest students with their most important skill kicks off Monday.
First thing in the morning, an army of volunteers will head to their neighborhood schools and read one on one with kids who need help. It's part of our Read Today initiative to boost test scores and change lives.
In the city of Washington, 25 newly-trained reading volunteers are gearing up for the big day.
"We are so excited to have the Read Today project tutor at our school," said Natalie Milne, the literacy coordinator at Washington Elementary.
Similar anticipation is building at 72 other schools, including Foothill Elementary in Box Elder.
"We have got our program up and running and we are excited for the wonderful results we are going to get," said Lauri Maddox with Americorps.
For a principal in Bountiful, the program offers sorely-needed individual attention.
"We all know we're in a recession right now," said Becky Bouvang, principal of Adelaide Elementary. "Class sizes are higher than they've been in years and the one on one is phenomenal."
In Salt Lake County, it helps William Penn Elementary address a dramatically growing refugee population that lacks any reading skills.
"Most have lived in refugee camps all their lives," said Holly Rawlings, the school's Americorps coordinator. "They haven't been taught English or their own language, so it's an uphill battle."
In West Weber, organizers believe tutors will help with behavior problems.
"Some of these problems are better dealt with in a Read Today one-on-one situation than in a class of 30," said literacy coordinator Kathy Demmick.
At schools in Farmington and Murray, 50 tutors in each school will now assist educators.
Here's how project tutor works:
- Principals request tutors
- LDS church leaders in those neighborhoods have called the volunteers
- AmeriCorps, already in more than 100 schools, trains and administers the program
It's a model that capitalizes on Utah's greatest resource -- the willingness to serve.
"I have seven children and I haven't been able to volunteer before now," said volunteer Pamela Nicholson. "I wanted to give back what volunteers have done for my children."
"This is the highlight of my whole day so I'm grateful I could come," said volunteer Janet Peterson.
It's a grassroots movement, and even those not being tutored appreciate the possibilities.
How will we gauge progress? Students in the program are tested every quarter, so by Christmas we should know if the program is on the right track.
Email:dwimmer@ksl.com
