About America Reads:  

The University of Louisville has joined the America Reads Challenge through its Federal Work Study Program and Service Learning Office. Financial Aid provides FWS funds to pay UofL students to tutor in the local America Reads Program, administered by the Service Learning Office.  Students are paid at a higher rate than other FWS jobs $8.00 and are raised to $8.50 per hour after one successful semester of tutoring. This means that tutors earn their money faster, thus not having to work as many hours. If students do not qualify for federal work study money, they are encouraged to Volunteer in the America Reads Program.

A Brief History:

America Reads is an initiative created by former president Clinton in 1996. The goal of this campaign is to ensure that every child can read independently by the end of third grade. To work towards achieving this goal, President Clinton asked the higher education community in 1997 to take a lead in helping to build a nation of readers. The U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley assisted in this effort by issuing a waiver to the Federal Work-Study regulations that allows the Federal Government to pay up to 100% of eligible FWS students' wages if they serve as a tutor to preschool through elementary age children. As of July 1, 2000, every college and university receiving Federal Work-Study funding was required to have a literacy tutoring program. Now the University of Louisville and schools all over the country are working together towards instilling a love for literacy in young children.

Do you want to become a part of this program?

If so, follow this link for a step-by-step introduction of how to become an America Reads Tutor.

You might want to consider being an America Reads tutor, if:

• You enjoy working with children.
• You enjoy reading and writing and can inspire others to.
• You are thinking about becoming a teacher.
• You can truly make a commitment to tutoring.
• And most of all, you care about kids and their future.

    -  If students cannot read well by the end of third grade, their chances for success are significantly diminished, and they have a greater likelihood of dropping out or engaging in delinquent behaviors.

    -  40% of America’s fourth graders failed to attain the basic level of reading and 70% of children fell below the proficient level of reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Training & Support:

The Service Learning Office in cooperation with the Volunteer Talent Center at Jefferson County Public Schools provides pre-service training as well as ongoing training to help UofL students further develop their skills as effective tutors. Tutors also meet regularly at the Service Learning Office for support sessions with tutors from various sites. FWS students are paid for attending these training and meetings.

Sites:

UofL has established America Reads partnerships with JCPS elementary schools and community centers that are located in urban areas within Louisville. Children at these sites will benefit from additional academic support from tutors. The teachers and administrators are also committed to supporting the tutors and are interested in sharing responsibilities with America Reads.

If you would like to be involved, please take a moment to look at our America Reads Forms.

Questions?  Check out our America Reads FAQ.