About D.C. Reads
D.C. Reads is a tutoring program for low-income children in the first through third grades who are not reading at grade level. D.C. Reads began in 1997 as a local response to the America Reads Challenge, a literacy initiative established to improve reading proficiency for all elementary students. America Reads Challenge allowed university students who are eligible for financial aid to receive work study funds tot tutor children in reading.
D.C. Reads provides on-site, one-hour tutoring sessions twice a week in public schools, parochial schools and community-based organizations in order to accomplish the following:
- Ensure all children can read at grade level by the end of third grade through planned, one-to-one tutoring;
- Provide free new books for home libraries and book ownership;
- Provide literacy resources and education for families of tutees;
- Develop a love of books through sharing quality literature with children;
- Develop consistent and nurturing mentoring relationships with children
D.C. Reads currently has approximately 60 Georgetown University students supporting the literacy development of approximately 75 of Washington, D.C.'s struggling readers in the primary grades. Tutors are paid through federal work study or volunteer their time.
D.C. Reads seek to ameliorate the literacy challenges in the District by being part of a research-based solution. D.C. Reads tutors:
- Are trained in effective and proven literacy instruction and assessment;
- Utilize research-based, well-balanced curriculum; and
- Plan and implement tutoring sessions that include the practice of decoding skills, exploration of language, phonemic awareness activities, phonics lessons, reading comprehension activities, and hands-on literacy and writing activities.
Tutors are also mentors. They understand the role consistent, responsive adults can play in helping all of our children learn to read and write well and independently. In addition to providing rich literacy experiences, tutors develop meaningful and reciprocal relationships with students and engage tutees in conversations and activities related to books and life experiences.
For a list of tutoring sites, click here.
For opportunties for students to get involved with this program, click here.
For more information about D.C. Reads, please contact the Director of D.C. Reads at 202-687-0821.
