NEWS RELEASE # 86
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2013
WHAT: Mayor Hogan, Reading Partners Visit APS
WHEN: April 9, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Sable Elementary School, 2601 Sable Boulevard 80011
Mayor Hogan, Reading Partners to Visit APS
Sable Elementary School will host education nonprofit group Reading Partners and Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan at Sable Elementary School as part of the Mayor’s Day of Recognition for National Service. To honor the significant impact of community volunteers and national service programs sponsored by the Corporation for National Community Service, Mayor Hogan will spend the afternoon of Tuesday, April 9th participating in Reading Partners one-on-one literacy tutoring program.
Reading Partners recruits and trains community volunteers to provide one-on-one literacy tutoring with a student reading six months to two and a half years behind grade level. During the 2012-13 school year, Reading Partners is providing volunteer-driven individualized instruction to 366 students in Colorado. Nationally, the organization operates in 103 schools, serving 5,500 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
“We are delighted to have the honor of hosting Mayor Hogan on this special day of recognition for National Community Service,” said Reading Partners Regional Executive Director Mike Turner. “With the support of the United Way, the Corporation for National Community Service and the Social Innovation Fund, we are able to come to Colorado this year and work with so many students and community volunteers. We are excited to be a part of this day of recognition and look forward to continuing to build on our strong commitment to national service so that all of our students receive the literacy support to succeed.”
Reading Partners sees demonstrable results in the reading skills of students in its program. In the 2011-12 school year, 89 percent of students accelerated their progress in reading. Before enrollment last year, Reading Partners students gained an average of only 0.6 months of reading skills for every month in the classroom. By the end of the year with Reading Partners, students gained an average of 1.6 months of reading skills per month, more than doubling their rate of learning and catching up to their on-grade peers.
About Reading Partners
Reading Partners is a national nonprofit that provides volunteer-led, one-on-one literacy tutoring to K-5 students at low-income elementary schools. Reading Partners has an 89% success rate improving students' reading skills. At each school site, Reading Partners transforms a dedicated space into a reading center and recruits a corps of 40-100 community volunteers who work directly with students. Volunteers are trained and supported by site coordinators to use a highly structured and research-validated curriculum to work one-on-one with students who have fallen behind in reading. To learn more, visit www.readingpartners.org.
About the Mayor’s Day of Recognition for National Community Service
Every day, in cities across America, national service is tackling tough problems and strengthening communities. Whether supporting food banks and homeless shelters, restoring city parks, building homes, managing community volunteers, providing health services, or tutoring and mentoring students, national service members help mayors tackle tough problems.
To spotlight the impact of national service and thank those who serve, mayors across the country will participate in the first-ever Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service on April 9, 2013. On this day, mayors will hold public events and use traditional and social media to highlight the value and impact of national service to the nation’s cities.
This initiative is being led by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors; the Corporation for National and Community Service; Cities of Service; the National League of Cities, and other organizations.
As the federal agency for service and volunteering, CNCS annually engages more than four million citizens in service at 70,000 sites across the country. CNCS leverages federal and private funds to support organizations that achieve measurable results where the need is greatest.
Last year, CNCS leveraged more than $1 billion in investments for organizations operating or based in 500 cities with a population of at least 30,000. National service also plays a key role in many smaller cities and towns and rural areas. To learn more visit www.nationalservice.gov/about/initiatives/mayorsforservice.asp.
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Interested media may contact APS News Media Specialist
Paula Hans at 303-326-2755 for more information
