To provide the foundation for future learning success by helping ensure all first and second graders in alexandria city public schools (acps) can read at or above grade level by the end of second grade.

Education , Special Education

Recruit, organize and support volunteers who tutor first and second graders in reading. The organization supported 174 volunteers who tutored first graders and kindergarteners in 2010. The tutoring program included two subprograms: book buddies and reading readiness. Book buddies is a reserch based and proven, peer reviewed program developed at the university of viginia's curry school of education. During 2010 - 2011, 85% of the 142 children tutored using the book buddies program reached or exceeded their literacy bencharks (passed the spring phonological awareness and literacy screening test). During 2010 - 2011, kindergarten reading readiness pilot programs at two schools served 28 kindergarteners with 27 of the 28 reaching their literacy benchmarks at the end of the year.