Read to Succeed
At the foundation of learning is the ability to read. Help set a child on the path to success.
More than HALF of all third graders aren’t reading at grade level. In fourth grade, students transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” If a student isn’t reading at grade level, they fall behind. In fact, they’re four times more likely to drop out. But you have the power to change that.
READING AT GRADE LEVEL
Read to Succeed focuses on helping children read at grade level by the end of third grade. Through a partnership with USD 259 – Wichita Public Schools, volunteer reading coaches are matched with at-risk students at local elementary schools. Coaches meet weekly with a student for 30 minutes to listen to them read and provide intervention tactics to help them improve their reading skills. This simple act helps them stay on track in school and life.
Because of the success of the program, we’re testing Read to Succeed in second grade at Gardiner, Franklin and Minneha elementary schools. Our hope is to provide intervention tactics earlier and prevent students from falling further behind.
BECOME A COACH
Coaches meet weekly, one-on-one with a student for 30 minutes. Both men and women are invited to be reading coaches. There is no financial commitment to be a coach. Free training is provided. You can pick the school you serve at and the day of the week you want to coach. When you invest your time as a reading coach, you’re investing in the life of a child and the future of our workforce.
Sign up today for the 2023-2024 school year
Click the button below to sign up to serve at the school of your choice today! When you sign up, you’ll receive a confirmation email with details about free training and a link to a required background check. Questions? Contact Heather Crump, United Way Community Impact Manager for Education, at hcrump@unitedwayplains.org or (316) 267-1321 ext. 4234.
2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR RESULTS
24 Elementary Schools Served
204 volunteer reading coaches met weekly with 261 second and third grade students
Surpassing Their Peers
On average, Read to Succeed students began the school year reading fewer words per minute compared to non-Read to Succeed students. By the end of the school year, they surpassed their peers.
Excelling in Accuracy
In both grade levels, Read to Succeed students were reading at an average accuracy rate greater than 98%, higher than their peers.
Achieving Benchmarks
41% of students achieved the goal to read at the grade level benchmark
PARTNERS
Special thanks to USD 259 – Wichita Public Schools for partnering with United Way for this initiative.
QUESTIONS?
For more information, contact Heather Crump, United Way Community Impact Manager for Education, at hcrump@unitedwayplains.org or (316) 267‑1321.
OUR FOCUS
Our focus is on health, education, financial stability and basic needs—the building blocks for a good quality of life and a strong community. Click below to learn more about what we’re doing, the programs we invest in and our lasting impact in each area.
