United Way program aimed at childhood literacy coming to Putnam County
This fall, a program designed to help students get on track with grade-level literacy is launching in Putnam County.
United Way of Central Indiana’s ReadUP program will be offered at Tzouanakis Intermediate School. Through the initiative, volunteers will visit the school weekly to read with third graders who are falling behind on their reading skills.
The nonprofit is currently recruiting volunteers for the program. Those interested can learn more and sign up at uwci.org/readup.
“We hope our students can be engaged, and the community in Putnam County can support this and find the meaningful relationships and impact this can have in the county,” said Tony Hart, volunteer and community engagement associate for United Way.
United Way of Putnam County merged last year with United Way of Central Indiana. While ReadUP is new to the county, the program has been operating for 15 years in schools across Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion and Morgan counties.
More than 270 volunteers worked with more than 250 students in 23 schools last year. The program targets children in third grade, when students shift from learning to read to reading to learn. Reading comprehension at that age can serve as a predictor for a student’s future educational success, Hart said.
Last school year, about 87 percent of ReadUP students for whom complete data was available were reading below grade level. At the end of the year, 24 percent were reading at or above grade level, and 60 percent had grown four or more reading levels, which is roughly the equivalent of one grade level, according to United Way data.
“We help to be a bridge, not only for the schools, but for the community,” Hart said. “We care about this initiative. We want our students to be able to succeed.”
Chris Flegal, United Way’s community relations director for Putnam County, said ReadUP complements the work the nonprofit is doing at the kindergarten level with the Real Men Read program. For seven years, volunteers have read to students in classrooms across the county through that initiative, which is meant to introduce children to positive male mentors and encourage an interest in reading. Early childhood education is a major focus for United Way.
“This has been such a successful program throughout Central Indiana,” Flegal said of ReadUP. “The fact that we can start this in Greencastle this year is really exciting because students are going to benefit. And hopefully we can expand this program throughout the county.”
Hart said the need for the program remains high. While some ReadUP students were up to 12 months behind on their reading before the pandemic, some are now up to 24 months behind, he said.
“We’re hoping that’s something we can start to curb,” Hart said.
During the school year, volunteers spend one hour a week reading with two students. Some volunteers choose to join the program with a partner, splitting the time commitment and participating every other week.
Volunteers must complete a background check and a one-hour training session. In-person and virtual training options will be available throughout August.