Last year, Minnesota Reading Corps placed a record 555 AmeriCorps members in 318 preschool sites and elementary schools across the state. But the need for trained reading tutors continues to increase. According to the Minnesota Department of Education, 50 percent of children entering kindergarten are not prepared to succeed, and one in four third-graders won't pass their statewide assessment tests.

To help ensure that all of the state's children are on track to read, Minnesota Reading Corps has increased its recruitment goal to more than 650 members for the 2010 – 2011 school year. Applications are now being accepted for positions throughout the state, and are available at www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org.

The latest Minnesota Reading Corps evaluation tracked participants' improvement across the 2008-2009 school year, and showed measurable growth. Statewide, 74 percent of Minnesota Reading Corps participants in third grade, all of whom were at significant risk for failure, passed Minnesota assessment tests. This compares to the overall 78 percent pass rate for all Minnesota third graders.

Minnesota Reading Corps recruits and trains AmeriCorps members, many of whom are recent college graduates, to provide extra support for children who are at risk for failure. Members receive extensive training and are equipped with effective literacy instruction methods. Full-time and part-time positions are available in locations around the state, including elementary schools, Head Start programs, community preschools, and ECFE classrooms.

Minnesota Reading Corps members commit to 11 months of service that begins in August. In addition to receiving valuable hands-on experience, members earn up to $5,350 to pay for college or to pay back federal student loans, a modest living allowance and for full-time members, health insurance. Members can also defer federal student loans while they serve. Beginning this year, new members who are at least 55 years of age may be eligible to transfer their education award to a child, grandchild or foster child.

"It is so very important that we are in the classrooms helping children to read. Being able to read will open up so many doors for these kids. It is a skill that they will take with them for the rest of their lives," says Myranda Shaw, a Minnesota Reading Corps member serving at Keewatin Early Years/Kootasca in Keewatin, Minn. "Being able to read means being able to be educated, and with an education these children will go out into society and create better lives for themselves, and the people around them."

ABOUT MINNESOTA READING CORPS

Minnesota Reading Corps is a statewide initiative to help every Minnesota child become a successful reader. The program matches trained AmeriCorps members and community volunteers with children from age 3 to third grade who are at risk for not reading at grade level. AmeriCorps members either serve directly with children to provide individualized literacy instruction or recruit community volunteer tutors to work one-on-one with children. The Minnesota Reading Corps is committed to recruiting and engaging individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion, political affiliation or other non-merit factors.

For more information, visit www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org, or call (651) 251-9075 or toll-free (866) 859-2825.

MEDIA: For more information or to set up an interview, please contact Shelli Lissick at Bellmont Partners Public Relations at (651) 276-6922 or shelli@bellmontpartners.com.

SOURCE Minnesota Reading Corps

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org