The mission of the Washington Reading Corps (WRC) is to improve reading abilities of K-6 students across Washington State. This is achieved through research-based tutoring of struggling readers and effective collaborations among schools, families, community members, National Service, business, and state partners.

Description:
Washington Reading Corps makes a difference for struggling readers:
WRC schools improve their WASL scores at a greater rate than the state average: WRC schools improved the number of students meeting standard on the 4th grade Reading WASL by 11.1 percentage points as compared to the statewide average of 7.7 percentage points from 2003 to 2004. From 1999 to 2006, scores at WRC schools improved by 30.8 percent, compared to the statewide average of 22 percent.
The WRC is a cost-effective intervention that has served over 95,000 Kindergarten through sixth grade students since 1998 with research-based tutoring interventions. Now, 7,000 struggling readers are being tutored in 84 schools.

Analysis by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory of pre- and post-test data indicates that WRC students at all grade levels have made significant gains relative to their grade-level peers. Other student changes (based on teacher questionnaires and interviews): improved attitudes toward reading, increased self-esteem and confidence, improved social skills, improved reading comprehension, and improved critical reading skills (analyzing, comparing, synthesizing, and summarizing).

Businesses, volunteers, and parents throughout Washington support WRC:
The WRC develops community collaborations that open schools to the community. The program averages 4,000 volunteers annually. Approximately $500,000 is contributed each year by businesses and organizations to support WRC programs at the local and state levels.

WRC schools develop family involvement plans and provide activities to students to encourage school-home connections. Family literacy activities include evening events, classes for parents, and book distributions.

Washington Reading Corps requires scientifically-based practices with strong results:
Data is used to ensure that tutoring sessions directly address the reading needs of students.
Programs are intentionally aligned with classroom teaching.
Tutoring programs include grade appropriate phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing activities.
Community partnerships and connections are resulting in a more positive view of schools within their communities.

History:
Washington Reading Corps Program Information

History: The Washington Reading Corps (WRC) is the product of the combined efforts of many people and organizations to encourage and support struggling readers. The WRC blends public, private, and community resources, directing them toward low performing schools. The WRC began as a pilot in 210 schools during the 1998-99 school year. After initial success, the program received $16 million in biennial funding from the state legislature to serve 203 schools during the 1999-01 school years. For the 2001-03 biennium, WRC received approximately $7.75 million in funding, which was then allocated as grants to 173 individual schools. In 2003-05, WRC received $7.4 million for grants to 135 schools. And in the 2005-07 biennium, the WRC received $8 million in funds that provided 300 AmeriCorps and VISTA positions per year to support WRC schools.

AmeriCorps/VISTA Support: AmeriCorps and VISTA members serve in most WRC schools. Members tutor the struggling readers identified by each school for participation in the WRC. Members also perform community outreach by recruiting community volunteers, establishing partnerships with local middle and high schools to facilitate peer and cross-age tutoring programs, and working with local and regional businesses to provide in-kind donations that support tutoring programs. Members also provide valuable outreach to families of WRC students through family involvement activities that range from family reading activities at the school to WRC newsletters that are sent home to WRC families.

Contact person: Carley Bohnen, (email)
Office fax number: (206) 901-7707

Address:

13601 32nd Ave S Tukwila, WA 98168 This location is handicap accessible (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.tukwila.wednet.edu

Directions:

Nearest Bus Stop: 128, 174, 10 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	No
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	No
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	Yes