I have personally seen kids who have never read an entire book come in and sit with a tutor, excited to read both school-assigned books and books they have chosen on interests they have. It is always clear to me which children are getting extra help - their grades and attitudes are all the proof I need. There are hundreds of programs around the country that can lend a hand. There are highly structured programs, which, for a fee, will provide a skills assessment to pinpoint your child's needs and then deliver a program tailored to meet those needs. There are also hundreds of free or low-cost programs that can also provide you with assistance.
Many local universities have tutoring programs, as do community centers, and local high schools.
A Better Chance , an academic program that works to identify, recruit and develop leaders among young people of color throughout the United States. The Community Service Centers Project , accessible through Quality Education for Minorities.