Program Overview:

Reading STARS is a volunteer-driven literacy coaching program that is having real and positive impact. During the 2007-2008 school year, more than 500 struggling readers - and the hundreds of dedicated coaches who worked one-on-one with them every week - made progress in mastering one of life's most critical skills.

Grade level scores increased an average of 1.1 grade levels in average of 19 hours. In a city where less than half (45%) of public schools students test at proficient or advanced for their grade, those results are dramatic. That's just one measurement of success, however. In addition to learning that a silent "e" makes a vowel sound long, students and coaches learned other equally important lessons. As important as learning letter blends and basic phonics rules was the cultivation of the respect essential to communicate across generational and situational divides.

Congratulations to all who participated. Click here to see the 2007-2008 report & results.