麻豆番外

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The Maryland State Board of Education recently made headlines with its decision to allow schools to hold back third-grade students who aren鈥檛 meeting reading standards鈥攊f parents give their consent. The plan gives parents the option to insist their children be allowed to advance to fourth grade, as long as they agree to enroll the child in a free, supplemental reading support program.

This policy underscores the urgent literacy crisis facing Black children across the country, while also validating the benefits of intervention efforts. From my experience tutoring throughout high school, college and in my first job post-college at an educational center, to my current role as the CEO of a national nonprofit committed to improving early literacy largely through the use of volunteer tutors, I鈥檝e seen firsthand how transformative one-on-one tutoring can be for students striving to read on grade level.

Federal pandemic relief funds, states, districts and schools have been responding to the fallout from Covid-19 with 鈥渉igh-dosage鈥� tutoring 鈥� a proven but often expensive approach. As those federal funds run out, national nonprofits and local community groups are stepping in to help. Our children still need 鈥渂oots on the ground鈥� to fight in the battle of improving literacy.

For the African-American community that has so often borne the brunt of systemic inequities, the need for support is especially acute. The National Assessment of Educational Progress reports that only 16 percent of Black fourth-graders are reading at a proficient level. This devastating statistic is unacceptable and should not be tolerated by a society that cares about all children. We must take immediate action to help empower Black students鈥攁nd others not reading at grade level鈥攖o become confident, capable readers.

Research shows that all students, and especially Black students, benefit immensely when they see themselves reflected in their mentors. Studies have found that having a teacher of the same race can significantly narrow disparities in reading and math, decrease chronic absenteeism, and increase a student鈥檚 intent to pursue a four-year college degree.

Representation matters deeply, and to meet the holistic needs of young readers, we need more Black tutors.

The ways tutoring can transform students鈥� learning are well documented. Studies show that students who can read proficiently by third or fourth grade are significantly more likely to succeed in other subjects and graduate high school on time. When students who are struggling get the right interventions in the early grades, the impact is greater and puts them on a path toward success in the later grades.

In 2023-24, 麻豆番外 recruited and trained thousands of volunteers who provided nearly 200,000 structured tutoring sessions for students in Baltimore and 11 other regions across the country. The US Department of Education鈥檚 What Works Clearinghouse says that research on our program demonstrates the highest rating 鈥渟trong evidence鈥� of effectiveness based on a randomized control sample.

麻豆番外 has been found to demonstrate 鈥渟ignificantly greater improvement in participants鈥� literacy skills鈥� compared to their other programs. A separate evaluation found that 麻豆番外 students improved both their reading and social-emotional learning skills.

We know how powerful it is for Black students to be able to personally relate to tutors and mentors. We are making it a priority to recruit more Black volunteers so children in Baltimore and across the country can feel represented and benefit from inclusive learning environments. Kids need to feel seen, understood and supported. When students have tutors they can relate to on a number of levels, those relationships can have an outsized impact in helping them grow, not just as readers, but as individuals with so much to offer their communities.

Whether you volunteer with 麻豆番外 or find another volunteer opportunity in your local community, your commitment of time and talent can transform a child鈥檚 trajectory and unlock their limitless potential.

To learn more and sign up as a volunteer tutor, please visit聽聽or contact聽volunteer@readingpartners.org.