Reading Partners SC, an educational nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that all elementary school students have the foundational literacy skills necessary to be successful in school and beyond, announced the kick off of their year-long 10th anniversary celebration beginning August 31st as the featured nonprofit at that evening’s Charleston RiverDogs game. Motivational speaker, author, and Reading Partners board member, Chris Singleton, will be speaking on behalf of the organization.
Reading Partners has served 5,368 students with the help of 11,165 community volunteers over the last ten years. Last year, 89% of kindergarten through second grade students met or exceeded their primary end of year growth goal.
Despite those numbers, the organization says there is a literacy crisis in this country and right here in South Carolina, where only 20% of students experiencing economic challenges are reading proficiently by the end of 4th grade. Reading Partners SC says that if students are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade, they are four times more likely to drop out of school. The nonprofit aims to change those odds and needs community support now more than ever since it is estimated that students have lost an additional seven months to a year's worth of learning during the pandemic. For more information on becoming a tutor during the 2022-23 school year, visit www.readingpartners.org. No teaching experience is required. Orientation, onsite support, and a structured, easy-to-follow curriculum is provided.
