President Clinton proposed the America Reads Challenge in August 1996 to involve every American in helping our children to read well and independently by the end of third grade. By developing and expanding current community literacy efforts, the America Reads Challenge can help many more children increase their language and reading skills and achievement. Teachers, principals, librarians, literacy organizations, businesses, national service programs, and nonprofits can all play a key role in strengthening learning through after-school, summer, and weekend reading programs. Families can serve as their child's first teacher, and community members can serve as tutors, mentors, and reading partners. At least one of those days a week, children read with a learning partner or tutor.
Children also learn one new vocabulary word a day and get a library card.
This initiative was developed by researchers and practitioners, and is supported by over 75 national education, literacy, community, and religious organizations. Bring together family, school, library, college, and community organizations that have a stake in helping all children read well and independently by the end of third grade. Parents, teachers, representatives of existing literacy programs, the local library, nearby colleges and universities, local businesses, area youth service organizations, civic associations, museums, arts and cultural organizations, retired teachers, bookstores, local newspapers, and religious groups can all help. Community Reading Program. Estimate the number of tutors needed for a program.