ALLEN COUNTY EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP D/B/A PROJECT READS

PROJECT READS IS A ONE-TO-ONE LITERACY TUTORING PROGRAM IN WHICH NEARLY 100 VOLUNTEER MENTORS MEET ONCE A WEEK FROM SEPTEMBER TO MAY TO HELP STRIVING YOUNG READERS DEVELOP AND IMPROVE THEIR LITERACY SKILLS. STUDENTS MEET WITH THE SAME MENTOR EVERY WEEK, ALLOWING THEM TO BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROGRAM AND BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MENTOR. THIS NOT ONLY PROMOTES REGULAR PARTICIPATION, BUT ALSO ALLOWS THE LITERACY MENTOR TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CHILD AND HIS OR HER SKILLS AND THEREBY TAILOR THE TUTORING TO EACH SPECIFIC CHILD. PROJECT READS WAS FOUNDED IN 1991 TO PROMOTE A LITERATE AND SKILLED CITIZENRY AND TO SUPPORT THE AREA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL. WITH OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PROMOTING LITERACY IN OUR COMMNITY, WE ARE SUCCESSFULLY FLEXING TO THIS NEW NORMAL IN IN THE POST-PANDEMIC ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE PREPARING A CONTINGENTY PLAN FOR 70% IN CLASSROOM AND 30% ONLINE LITERACY MENTORING IN THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. THERE ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHO ARE OFFERING GUIDANCE AS WE TAILOR OUR PROGRAMMING TO THE NEEDS OF EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. PROJECT READS IS THE ONLY LITERACY PROGRAM IN NORTHEAST INDIANA THAT IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS TO IMPROVE LITERACY LEVELS ON A ONE-TO-ONE BASIS. DUE TO COVID-19 AND THE INABILITY TO MENTOR CHILDREN IN PERSON, PROJECT READS INTRODUCED CARIBU TO AREA FAMILIES. CARIBU IS AN ONLINE INTERACTIVE LITERACY PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE LITERACY SUPPORT TO YOUNG READERS, EVEN AT A DISTANCE. DESCRIBED AS "FACETIME MEETS KINDLE," CARIBU'S LIBRARY INCLUDES OVER 1,500 BOOKS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED TO PROJECT READS FAMILIES AT NO COST. THIS ONLINE ALTERNATIVE ALLOWS OUR MENTORS TO HAVE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CHILDREN THEY MENTOR WHILE REMAINING SAFE AT HOME. PROJECT READS ANTICIPATES THAT WE WILL RETURN TO NORMAL SITE-BASED VOLUNTEER PROGRAMMING THIS FALL. DURING 2021 PROJECT READS SERVED 57 CHILDREN WITH THE HELP OF 50 VOLUNTEERS.