About the America Reads Tutoring Corps

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Our Mission:

We are committed to meeting the challenge to have all children reading well and independently by the end of third grade. Our mission is to:

• Get kids excited about reading.
• Improve kids' literacy skills.
• Provide greater access to books and opportunities reading with an adult.
• Support literacy development at home.

Through a partnership with the School of Education and office of Financial Aid, we train college students to be mindful, effective tutors by scaffolding their learning about how student achievement in the U.S. education system interfaces with issues of class, race, language acquisition and other systems. The University students are the vehicle through which we work toward our mission.

Our History:

Unless a child reads well by the end of third grade, he or she is unlikely to ever catch up, leaving that child at a lifelong disadvantage. Nationwide, a staggering 40 percent of America's fourth graders cannot read as well as they should. In August of 1996, President Clinton called upon every American to join his America Reads Challenge to help more children read well and independently by the end of the third grade.

In the Fall of 1997, the Edward Ginberg Center for Community Service and Learning, the Office of Financial Aid, and the School of Education joined forces to form the University of Michigan America Reads Tutoring Corps. Beginning in September, 2005 the Tutoring Corps expanded from approximately 100 to 150 tutors thanks to a grant from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation to expand the program. Each year more than 450 children in area schools receive reading assistance from America Reads Tutors.