Learn for Life Reading Initiative Surpasses Expectations
For the City-Times
United Way of Portage County’s Learn for Life Reading Initiative wrapped up its third year on a high note, surpassing set outcome goals in both the Stevens Point Area and Rosholt school districts.
With the goal of increasing reading achievement in the community so that all children in Portage County are proficient in reading by the time they finish third grade, tutors worked one-on-one throughout the 2012-13 school year with 61 struggling readers among four Stevens Point Area public elementary schools and Rosholt Elementary School.
The Learn for Life program is focused on academic progress. Each district used the assessment tool determined by the school district. Using the DRA2 (Developmental Reading Assessment) assessment tool, final numbers show that 78 percent of students in the program in the Stevens Point Elementary Schools achieved grade-level proficiency and/or exceeded grade-level growth.
Rosholt’s performance was equally strong, with 64 percent of students achieving MAP (Measurement of Academic Progress) score increases greater than expected grade-level growth. The performance of each of the school districts exceeded anticipated outcomes by greater than 13 percent.
“The students, tutors, teachers and principals put so much effort into this,” said Laura Pfeil, United Way of Portage County Community Initiatives Associate. “It’s great to see these results as we work together to close the academic achievement gap.”
Pfeil said the program will expand into seven additional schools in the 2013-14 school year, including the remaining five Stevens Point Area School District elementary schools, St. Bronislava Elementary and St. Stephen Elementary.
More tutor volunteers will be needed for the expansion. Sharon Knopf, Plover, a second-year Learn for Life tutor, said she highly recommends the volunteer opportunity for others. “It’s well programmed,” said Knopf. “You know what you’re doing because of the wonderful training. And you’re not just going in and listening to them read. It’s a structured program and it’s very individualized.”
To learn more, call (715) 341-6740, email [email protected] or visit www.unitedwaypoco.org.