UPDATE AND INFORMATION NEWSLETTER
January 8, 1998

As I review the year that has come to a close, it is rewarding to realize that much has been accomplished during the first year of President Clinton's America Reads Challenge. And, thanks to President's Coalition members across the country, we are one step closer to reaching the President's goal of ensuring that every child can read well and independently by the end of the third grade. The America Reads Challenge year-in-review highlights include:

• The President's inclusion of the initiative as part of his Call to Action for American Education during the State of the Union address;
• The April 26th weekly radio address focusing on the legislation and subsequent transmission of the bill to Congress on April 28th;
• The creation of a partnership between the U.S. Department of Education and the Corporation for National Service -- working together to provide more opportunities for children to practice and further develop their reading skills through extended learning time.
• The $68 million increase in funding for the Corporation for National Service's literacy grants through AmeriCorp/VISTA, AmeriCorp State Programs, RSVP, and Foster grandparents.
• The call to colleges and universities to use their increased Federal Work-Study funds to place students in community tutoring programs and the overwhelming response - 830+ colleges and universities taking the Challenge;
• The establishment of the President's Coalition for the America Reads Challenge and the wonderful response that continues to grow weekly;
• Fifteen successful summer READ*WRITE*NOW! Pilot Sites that reached more than 85,000 children across the country;
• Distribution of 1.5 million color copies of the READ*WRITE*NOW! Activity Kit through summer pilot sites, at public libraries nationwide, and in response to caller requests to the Department's Information Resource Center toll-free number. In addition, two Spanish reading and writing activity guides were made available via the America Reads Challenge website, and many other organizations utilized the black & white version of the basic READ*WRITE*NOW! kit.
• Passage of initial bipartisan legislation through the House of Representatives;
• The development of multiple communication vehicles to broadcast the America Reads Challenge message including the America Reads Challenge Website, the President's Coalition bi-weekly and Federal Work- Study monthly newsletters developed to communicate with the major support groups for the America Reads Challenge; special Legislative Updates providing the most up-to-date information about the legislation and its movement through Congress; a Listserve to provide a site for information exchange; magazine and newsletter articles from the director that have been published in many literacy and early childhood development publications; bi- weekly updates, feature articles, and satellite broadcasts published by the U.S. Department of Education's ED Initiatives On-Line Newsletter, Community Update newsletter and through Satellite Town Meetings;
• Copies of Expanding Federal Work-Study and Community Service Opportunities: An FWS Resource Guide mailed to colleges and universities signed on to the America Reads Challenge by May 30, 1997. Participants joining since that time have access to the publication on the website; and
• terrific attendance at President's Coalition meetings held at the three Improving America's Schools regional conferences.

1998 looks to be another year of challenges and the possibility for many successes. I am thankful that so many dedicated volunteers stand behind the President and Secretary Riley, and all of us here at the America Reads Challenge, in helping create a nation of readers. The New Year also provides several new opportunities for coalition building and community partnerships, some that include funding mechanisms. I have outlined them below, and encourage any and all members to research and apply for these opportunities. Happy New Year!

A dozen new organizations have taken the America Reads Challenge and have joined our ranks as we begin the second year of this important initiative to ensure that every child reads well and independently by the end of the third grade. Please welcome the following organizations...

• Children's Literacy Initiative
• American Association of School Librarians
• National Council of Jewish Women
• GE Elfun (General Electric Service Organization)
• Trust Insurance Company
• Action for the Homeless
• Jumpstart
• San Bernardino City Unified School District
• ReadWest, Inc. - LVA
• Family Voices
• The Dollywood Foundation
• South Central Community Services, Inc.

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.

I. AmeriCorps*VISTA America Reads Availability of Funds for Projects-Nationwide.

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service

SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service (hereinafter "the Corporation") announces the availability of funds for fiscal year 1998 for new AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) program grants focusing on the America Reads initiative in all fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The program grants are authorized under Title I, Part A of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended (Pub. L. 93-113). Project applications will be written to cover a 24-month period although grants will be awarded for a 12-month period with a renewal option. As part of this effort, the Corporation is soliciting applicants which are public or private non-profit organizations, including current AmeriCorps*VISTA project sponsors. Approximately 35-40 grants are expected to be awarded in April 1998 with AmeriCorps*VISTA members beginning service prior to the start of the 1998-99 school year.

ADDRESSES: Application instructions and kits are available from AmeriCorps*VISTA, Corporation for National and Community Service, 1201 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20525, (202) 606-5000, ext. 249, TDD (202) 565-2799, or TTY via the Federal Information Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. The entire text of the NOFA will be provided in the application kit, or can be accessed from the website of the Government Printing Office at http://www.gpo.gov/default.html

Applications should be submitted to the Corporation for National and Community Service, 1201 New York Avenue, NW, Mailstop 9207, Washington, DC 20525, Attn: Kathleen Dennis. The Corporation will not accept applications that are submitted via facsimile or e-mail transmission.

II. AmericaReads: 21st Century Schools Availability of Funds for new awards for fiscal year 1998

Purpose of Program: The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program was established by Congress to award grants to rural and inner- city public schools, or consortia of such schools, to enable them to plan, implement, or expand projects that benefit the educational, health, social services, cultural and recreational needs of the community. School-based community learning centers can provide a safe, drug-free, supervised and cost-effective after-school, weekend or summer haven for children, youth and their families.

Eligible Applicants: Only rural or inner-city public elementary or secondary schools, consortia of those schools, or LEAs applying on their behalf, are eligible to receive a grant under the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. An LEA with many interested schools is encouraged to submit a consortium application on their behalf. Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the statutory program purpose as being either a "rural" or "inner-city" school or a consortium of those schools.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 8, 1998

Applications Available: December 16, 1997

Available Funds: $40 million

Project Period: Up to 36 months. Please note that all applicants for multi-year awards are required to provide detailed budget information for the total grant period requested.

Competitive Priority: Projects that will use a significant portion of the program funds to address substantial problems in an Empowerment Zone, including a Supplemental Empowerment Zone, or an Enterprise Community designated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or the United States Department of Agriculture. Additionally, preference will be given to grants applicants that serve children's academic needs, including applicants that provide services that will assist students who need additional support to master reading and literacy skills, both by directly providing reading services as well as tutoring and mentoring programs.

Written requests should be mailed to: Amanda Clyburn, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, 555 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20208-5644, Attn: 21st Century Center Learning Centers. Requests may also be e-mailed to Amanda Clyburn (amanda.clyburn@ed.gov) or faxed to (202) 219-2198.

Electronic Access: Anyone may view these documents in text or portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/21stcclc

Reach Out and Read, a pediatric early literacy program, was developed at Boston City Hospital in 1989 to improve literacy among children living in poverty. By providing parents with information, support and the materials they need to make books a part of their children lives, Reach Out and Read creates a supportive relationship between parents and health care providers to help children learn to read. Community volunteers read stories to children in clinic waiting rooms and model reading aloud techniques for parents; pediatricians and nurse practitioners give age-appropriate books to the child, comment on the child's abilities, and counsel parents on how to use books to support their children's healthy development; and at each visit, the child is invited to take home a new, developmentally and culturally appropriate children's book. For more information about Reach Out and Read, call (617) 414-5701.

The National Jewish Coalition for Literacy has pledged 100,000 reading tutors within 5 years. The goal this year is to have 10 pilot sites. Currently, programs are operating in Boston and Baltimore. The Jewish Community Relations Council is serving as the lead agency in both communities, and Boston has hired a full time director for this program. The role of the director is to recruit tutors, arrange for their training, and coordinate with the school system for their placement. Thus far, 150 tutors are trained and ready to begin tutoring in the Boston public schools in January. They have 15-20 retired teachers of reading who are serving as team leaders. They also have many other calls from law firms and businesses and are working to process these volunteers into the system. Combined Jewish Philanthropies has been raising funds for this effort. Other cities currently considering participating this year include Providence, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Detroit, Portland, Seattle, and Louisville. The goal for the next year is to add 25 more cities. For more information, please contact Craig Sumberg at (212) 599-8388.

The University of Maryland entered into a partnership with the Prince George's County public schools to develop the America Reads Corps. During the Fall, 1997 semester, the Corps consisted of over 60 Federal Work-Study students who served as Reading Mentors in nine elementary schools. In addition to working at least six hours per week one-on-one with primarily second graders, Reading Mentors also participated in reflection through journals and a specially created listserv discussion group. Initial training and ongoing training and development sessions were designed and implemented by faculty from the College of Education together with the Reading Supervisor and reading specialists from the county schools. The university and the county will jointly evaluate the effectiveness of the program from several vantage points, including those of the children, reading specialists, teachers, and Reading Mentors. For more information, contact Barbara Jacoby, Director, Commuter Affairs and Community Service at 1195 Stamp Student Union, Univ. of MD., College Park, MD 20742, (301) 314-5274, http://www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInfo/Departments/commute/

Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK, has created a program for K-3 students called "Reading Partners" which combines the efforts of the Vice President for Administration, the College of Education, the NSU Literacy Center, and the Office of Student Financial Services. This team works in conjunction with Tahlequah, Muskogee and Westville Public Schools to outline and meet the needs of children reading at the lowest levels. The program includes a curriculum and training program developed and implemented by Dr. Johnnye Morton, Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction for the College of Education at NSU. Qualified Federal Work-Study students were carefully selected and trained for the Reading Partners program. The program's goal is to have children reading at the middle reading level for their grade within 12 to 16. Tutoring will continue until all students have become independent readers. For more information, contact Donna Agee at ageedm@cherokee.nsuok.edu

Those of you who attended the Improving America's Schools Conferences were introduced to the Mathematics Initiative of the U.S. Department of Education. As you know, mathematics, and reading are President Clinton's top priorities in education for America's children. Whereas fourth grade is the critical transition time in children's learning to ensure they can read well and independently, eighth grade is the critical transition period in mathematics learning.

Students who do not have a foundation in algebra and geometry by the end of the eighth grade often are channeled into general math classes in high school. They are not exposed to meaningful math and science courses, lack the prerequisites to take Advanced Placement, and, in turn, face limited options for college and careers. In our technological age, demands for mathematical skills and knowledge are continually increasing, so students will need to master challenging mathematics in order to be well-positioned in the job market.

The goal of the Mathematics Initiative is helping all students master challenging mathematics, including the foundations of algebra and geometry, by the end of eighth grade.

The activities of the Mathematics Initiative are in six major areas:

President's Coalition members will be updated on the Mathematics Initiative on a regular basis through this newsletter. For more information on the Mathematics Initiative, look under "Secretary's Initiatives" at the Department's Web site at <http://www.ed.gov>.

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:

Ellen Frawley
Coordinator, President's Coalition for the America Reads Challenge
600 Independence Ave., SW, Room 6123, Washington, DC 20202
Phone: 202-401-3069 or Fax 202-401-0596
E-mail: Ellen.Frawley@ed.gov

(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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