Lead to Read KC’s mission is to support the social, emotional and reading skills that are foundational for student success by advancing its literacy platform and mobilizing community volunteers. They connect trusted, caring adult volunteers (called Reading Mentors) with students in first through third grade in high-need schools in Kansas City. The third grade reading proficiency level in Kansas City is 50%, and at many of the schools Lead to Read KC serves, it is below 20%. Lead to Read KC provides each student with 30 minutes of one-to-one reading and mentoring support each week for the school year. Students and Reading Mentors establish a caring relationship throughout the year. In addition Lead to Read KC provides students with a visit from a local author whose book focuses on social emotional growth, and each student receives a copy of the author’s book. They also give books out in the community where children are waiting: laundromats, food pantries, barber shops, etc., as well as at community events.
More information about this Difference Maker can be found at:
www.leadtoreadkc.org
