Every Child Reading at Grade Level by 3rd Grade

Learning to read is one of the most important things for the successful development of a child!

Unfortunately, statistics for Fresno these days are grim. 81% of Fresno 3rd grade students read below grade level. Studies show that 92% of low-level readers in 3rd grade will not go to college. Furthermore, 80% of incarcerated individuals are either low-level or non-readers.

The vision of the ReadFresno literacy initiative is every child reading at grade level by third grade. TO accomplish this goal, ReadFresno is launching a city and county-wide literacy initiative that will utilize community volunteers, collaborate with families, schools, institutions and faith and community-based organizations to provide tutoring and access to books.

ReadFresno Pilot

Four Elementary School sites will be part of the pilots project starting in March 2005 with an initial goal of 10,000 books and 400 volunteer readers.

The four pilot elementary schools are Burroughs in Southeast Fresno, Jefferson and Susan B. Anthony in DOwntown Fresno, and Columbia in West Fresno.

Volunteer for ReadFresno

Each volunteer reader will be trained to read with two children once a week for 30 minutes. The ReadFresno pilot is 15 weeks and volunteer readers can begin anytime during the first month.

Volunteer Reader Buddies

ReadFresno is encouraging Volunteer Readers to sign up in pairs. Each Reader Buddy will read once a week on a different day, so that each child will be read with twice a week. SO grab a friend and sign up!

Help Change Our Community

One of the most important ways to improve the health and quality life in Fresno is to increase the literacy of its children in their early elementary school years. The ReadFresno initiative seeks to have every child in Fresno COunty read at grade level by 3rd grade.

How You Can Be Involved

• Be a volunteer reader
• Be a volunteer site coordinator
• Donate new and used children's books to ReadFresno
• Donate funds to ReadFresno

Fresno State Students Collect 6,400 Books

In October, 2004, 20 students from a Fresno State Marketing 100 CLass were challenged by their professor to collect books for ReadFresno. THe students came up with creative ideas including book collections from family and friends and book drives at local schools and businesses. Two student athletes engaged the Fresno State Athletic Department in the cause and held two book drives.

COllectively, they gathered 6,400 books, helping ReadFresno pass the halfway mark of collecting 10,000 books by the end of January 2005! Special thanks to these wonderful Fresno State students!