The Foundation for Orange County Public Schools is recruiting volunteers to help second grade students Read2Succeed!

For Immediate Release
ORLANDO, FL (OCTOBER 27, 2009):  The Foundation for Orange County Public Schools is recruiting volunteers to help second grade students Read2Succeed!

The Foundation for Orange County Public Schools needs volunteers to help second grade students.  A permanent program of the Foundation since 2001, Read2Succeed provides one-on-one mentoring to second graders who are reading below grade level. The objective of Read2Succeed is to ensure struggling students in second grade are receiving the academic and individual support they need to become successful capable readers.  Matching caring, trained volunteers with targeted at-risk students is dramatically improving reading skills as well as behavior and attendance.

Research shows that low literacy affects quality of life, the ability to find and keep a job and relationships with other members of the community.  When adult mentors read once a week with students who read below grade level, their academic performance and classroom behavior improve.  The mere presence of a positive role model leads to improved self-esteem and self-confidence, improved attitudes towards school and a sense of trust in personal relationships.

Read2Succeed is not designed to drill students in phonics or directly teach reading.  Those are teacher responsibilities.  The main objective is to impart a love of books and learning, to provide the opportunity for additional practice of literacy skills and to help students make vital gains in social and personal development. We strive to connect students with adults who will nurture both their academic and personal needs. Reading Mentors and second graders meet once a week for 30-45 minute sessions. Consistency is critical; most volunteers commit to a full academic year.

Recent evaluations of the 2009-2010 Read2Succeed program from classroom teachers and other school staff (conducted by the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools in May 2009) show that almost all second graders who were paired with a mentor improved their reading abilities at least one reading level and of these same students, nearly 75% showed social progress through increased school attendance, fewer behavior referrals, and general improvement in attitude towards reading and learning.

It takes less than an hour a week to change a child’s life forever.  Will you commit to helping a student Read2Succeed?  For more information, please call the Foundation at 407.317.3261 or visit the Foundation’s website at www.foundationforocps.org. 

Contact:

Heath Wells

Director, Community Engagement

407-317-3261

heath.wells@ocps.net

About the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools:
Established in 1987, the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides resources and programs to the school district. Through innovative programs and projects such as Read2Succeed, Middle School Kids Initiative, Teach-In and teacher grants, the Foundation provides more than $1.5 million annually to area schools to help create a brighter future and ensure a quality education for every student. The organization serves the 10^th largest public school system in the nation, supporting more than 174,000 students, approximately 13,000 teachers and 180 schools in the county. The Foundation is also leading a long-term grassroots initiative called Count Me In!, which is a community-driven initiative designed to reconnect our community with our schools and enhance quality education. For more information, visit www.foundationforocps.org or call 407.317.3261.