June 4, 2023 11:45a
(WGTD)---As the school year comes to a close, the Kenosha County United Way's "Readers Are Leaders" tutoring program is celebrating its successes
About 60 tutors worked with about 100 students at four Kenosha Unified elementary schools this year, with volunteers and students generally getting together weekly for thirty-minute-long sessions.
The students were picked for the program because they needed extra help in reading and writing. "Right now in Kenosha, just 30% of third graders are reading proficiently, which is a huge crisis in our community," said Marisa Markowski, United Way's director of resource development. "We know that we need to work together in order to change that number and get these kids reading at a level where they can succeed for their entire life," she said. Some of those scores were dragged down by the pandemic.
Celebratory parties are being held at each of the four participating schools, featuring snacks, motivational messages for the kids, expressions of thanks to the tutors and visits from "Scoopie," the Culver restaurant chain's mascot.
The "Readers Are Leaders" program is in its tenth year.
Volunteers for next year's program are already being sought. The number to call is 262-658-4104.
-0-
