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UPDATE AND INFORMATION NEWSLETTER

A MESSAGE FROM DIRECTOR CAROL H. RASCO

As 1997 draws to a close, I?d like to ask you to take a few moments to reflect on the many wonderful accomplishments that have been made to help ensure that every child reads well and independently by the end of third grade. I?d also to ask you to begin thinking about new ways to spread the word about the America Reads Challenge and the good work being done by President?s Coalition members.

A powerful way to create excitement about the America Reads Challenge and encourage more people to get involved is by submitting articles to your organization?s newsletters or monthly publications to talk about the importance of children?s literacy. I?d like to make some suggestions about topics, and also offer some support.

• Share your experiences working with Federal Work-Study students and AmeriCorp or AmeriCorp VISTA members. Encourage others to develop these same resources in their communities;

• Write an article about your organization?s plans to support summer reading programs, including experiences from past programs, or how you envision your program working this summer;

• Survey your members who are already tutoring students to find out what kinds of activities work best, which books their young readers like most, and which resources they?ve found to be most helpful.

• Include information about the America Reads Challenge website and the U.S. Department of Education?s toll-free number, 1-800-USA-LEARN, in your newsletter and encourage parents, grandparents, and all caring adults to utilize the many publications available free of charge from both resources.

Another opportunity I?d like to share with you is the U.S. Department of Education?s Satellite Town Meetings. These monthly meetings are live, interactive television programs focusing on community efforts to improve teaching and learning. They are produced in partnership with the National Alliance of Business and the Center for Workforce Preparation. Broadcast and cable partners include Discovery Communications, the Public Broadcasting System and Channel One. There is no charge to downlink the program.

As a service to your communities, you can host a town meeting at any site that has downlink capabilities. Most colleges and universities have this capability as well as local public television stations, and local cable access outlets. Satellite Town Meetings are broadcast on the third Tuesday of every month, beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST. Topics for 1998 include:

• Serving Students with Disabilities: What Families, Schools and Communities Need to Know - Tuesday, January 17

• Raising Student Achievement: Schools, Communities and Challenging Standards - Tuesday February 17

• Think College Early: Preparing Academically and Financially - Tuesday, March 17

• Making Math Count: World-Class Achievement Starting with Algebra - Tuesday, April 21

• Reading Partners: Teaming Up to Help Children Read Well - Tuesday, May 19

• Creating a Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free School: Turning Research into Practice - Tuesday, June 16

A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS

The holiday season is a time of gift giving. At this special time of year, we offer a warm welcome to our newest literacy partners who, like all of you, are giving the gift of children?s literacy in their own special way:

• Sonoma County Literacy Coalition
• USA Today
• Suzuki-Orff School for Young Musicians
• General Federation of Women?s Clubs
• Black Community Crusade for Children - Children?s Defense Fund
• National Association of Elementary School Principals
• Foundry United Methodist Church (local congregation of President and Mrs. Clinton)
• ASPIRA Association, Inc. Cathedral School United Airlines - Civic Affairs Mena Child Development Center

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Congress is in recess until Tuesday, January 27. In preparation for their return, we have begun discussions at the staff level with the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee.

SPOTLIGHT ON COALITION MEMBERS MEETING THE CHALLENGE

Here?s how one organization?s ongoing work supports the America Reads Challenge...

The MegaSkills Education Center of the Home and School Institute is a nonprofit organization that helps families and educators build children?s achievement. The program provides parents and teachers with tools to strengthen habits, attitudes and behaviors that determine achievement. For more information, call 202-466-3633, or visit the MegaSkills website at http://www.MegaSkillsHSI.org

FEDERAL WORK- STUDY MEETING THE CHALLENGE

More good news for the Federal Work-Study program of the America Reads Challenge. Beginning July 1, 1998, the institutional share requirement for FWS students working in family literacy programs will also be waived. Colleges and universities will now have more flexibility in placing tutors in programs where they can work with parents and caregivers as well as elementary and pre-school students. Research shows that children whose parents work with them on literacy skills during early childhood have a significantly better chance of reading well and independently. A family literacy program integrates literacy tutoring for children; training for parents or caregivers of children in the program to equip them with skills needed to partner with their children in learning; and literacy activities to enhance their learning time together. For the full text of the new regulation, visit web sites at http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/ or http//www.ed.gov/news.html

Here?s what?s going on at two Federal Work-Study campuses...

At the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 84 students are tutoring in seven area schools. The program is a collaboration of the Center for Learning Through Community Service, the Office of Financial Aid, and the School of Education, and is led by a steering committee made up of members from each office plus two community members. Sites were chosen based upon high interest from school principals and classroom teachers, and focus on kindergarten and first grade students. A newsletter for participants? families is being developed that will keep parents informed about what?s going on in the program, and how they can incorporate reading in their everyday activities. Social events for tutors, parents, children and teachers will also be planned. For more information, contact Carolyn Schrodel, 313-647-7766.

At the University of Tulsa, the reading tutor program initiated two years ago has expanded from a few students to 35 now working with students in two elementary schools within walking distance of the campus. These students work in the classroom directly with the teachers, either in small groups or one- on-one. The America Reads Challenge FWS program has provided the University with the opportunity to develop stronger, on-going relationships with these neighboring schools. For more information, contact Kathy Brittingham at 918- 631-2526.

A RESOURCE YOU MIGHT FIND HELPFUL

The America Reads Listserv is a forum for interested parties to discuss questions and best practices regarding children?s literacy and the America Reads Challenge. A listserv is a mailing list of people who communicate about a common interest through e-mail. The America Reads Challenge Listserv was created for use by people from all walks of life and with different interests in children?s literacy issues. Participants include students, teachers, volunteer tutors, parents, and experts and practitioners in the field of literacy who want to share best practices and the names of publications they?ve found helpful. It?s simple to join; just send a message to the America Reads Challenge Listserv at majordomo@etr-associates.org then type: subscribe americareads.

LET US SHARE YOUR GOOD WORKS

We want to spread the news about your efforts so, please, won?t you send us a paragraph or two telling us about how your organization is meeting the America Reads Challenge? Or call and tell us about your efforts by contacting Ellen Frawley by phone, fax, e-mail or regular mail at:

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
America Reads Challenge

(202) 401-8888
(202) 401-0596 (fax)
Toll free number for comments or ordering publications:
1-800-USA-LEARN or TDD 1-800-437-0833
Web site: www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/
Send a message to the America Reads Challenge Listserv at
majordomo@etr- associates.org
then type: subscribe americareads

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