Program Updates

Thanks to the enthusiasm, compassion, and commitment of our volunteer tutors, YES Reading provided reading support to 275 children during the 2005-2006 school year. Our volunteers collectively donated almost 7,000 hours to improving students' reading skills. And the resulting impact on students' achievement was evident. On average, YES Reading students gained one grade level after only 30 hours of tutoring, with the majority of YES Reading students ending the school year either above grade level or significantly closer to grade level than when they entered the program.

One hundred percent of teachers across all four of our partner school campuses identified YES Reading as valuable to the school and students. One Selby Lane teacher commented, "All my students enrolled in the program have gained so much confidence! They are more motivated to read and more invested in their reading." A Mariano Castro 4th/5th grade teacher noted, "I think the one-on-one tutoring and the focused attention my students received is so helpful. They also became very close with their tutor, and that is a special bond for the kids."

Teachers observed increased self-confidence in 96% of YES Reading students. They also noted greater class participation in 92% of students after they began attending YES Reading. Additionally, according to teacher observation and assessment, 96% of students made gains in their decoding skills, 95% improved their ability to comprehend and analyze text, and 94% showed an overall greater interest in reading after spending time each week at YES Reading.

We are excited about the gains made by our students and are looking forward to continuing to work with each of our partner campuses next fall.

Back to Newsletter, Summer 2006