UPDATE AND INFORMATION NEWSLETTER
A MESSAGE FROM DIRECTOR CAROL H. RASCO
Over the last two years, the U.S. Department of Education has designated AMERICA READS CHALLENGE: READ*WRITE*NOW! (ARC:RWN) Pilot Sites to serve as models of community, extended learning, literacy programs for children. The purpose of the sites is to improve the reading and writing skills of children most in need of help through, primarily, after school, weekend, and summer programs. The site coordinators volunteer to develop and provide community reading programs without direct financial support from the Department. As such, their central roles are to bring together community partners (including the local schools or school district) and resources to support their literacy efforts, arrange for early childhood literacy programs for families and caregivers, and link school-aged children with learning partners or tutors that meet with children at least once a week.
In FY 1996, three ARC:RWN sites were designated, including two city sites and one rural site. In FY 1997, 13 new sites were added including ten major city sites, two county sites, and one rural area. This year, I am pleased to announce that we have designated at least one pilot site in every state! The sites were selected to represent a range of geographic locations and coalition director affiliations, as well as their potential for reaching Title I students.
Sites do not receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education for the operation of their programs. However, the Department will provide each site with the opportunity to send one representative to an all expenses paid, three day training sponsored by the Corporation for National Service. They will also each receive a comprehensive resource kit which is intended to provide information to sites on a wide array of topics.
Many of you have been involved with the ARC: RWN sites in the past. For example, Pizza Hut has generously donated coupons which are enclosed in the RWN kits entitling a child to a free pizza after they have met the goal for the RWN summer reading and writing challenge. AMC Theatres has generously donated use of their space for tutor training and screened a movie for tutors and children at the end of the summer to congratulate them for their hard work. We are sending you with this Update a list of the 1998 ARC:RWN Pilot Sites in the hope that you will begin to give some thought to how you might partner with one or more of these sites in the coming months. Just think of the impact that can be made when communities work together to support reading!
I am pleased to invite you to participate in a live, interactive teleconference with Vice President Al Gore and U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley on how to create successful after-school programs in your community. This exciting event will take place on Thursday, April 16, 1998. If you register by Thursday, April 9, you will receive a free resource kit to help you make the most of this opportunity.
The America Reads Challenge strongly endorses the use of extended learning time for caring adults to tutor children in reading. Whether this takes place after-school, on weekends or during summer vacations, we know that extended learning time gives many children both the confidence and the skills they need to become better readers. But many pragmatic issues must be resolved before a successful extended learning program can be launched.
Vice President Gore will address the essential needs of a community seeking to put a strong after-school policy into practice. How do you build successful partnerships? How do you ensure quality programs? What are possible sources of funding? How do we reach the students who need help the most?
Knowing your commitment to children's literacy, I hope you can take advantage of this opportunity to learn and to share ideas on Making After-School Count!
Attached you will find information on the teleconference and a registration form. Please call 1-800-USA-LEARN for more details. Thank you.
-###-
HOME