1,000 Reading Clubs

A few things to note…did you know?

Poor inner-city youths are 7 times more likely to be the victims of child abuse or neglect than are children of high social and economic status.

The state of Texas has noted the 76707 zip code as having one of the highest poverty rates among children in the entire state of Texas.

Approximately 90% of Waco ISD students are considered poor because they are on free and reduced lunches

*For a family of four with two under age eighteen, the "poverty line" or "poverty threshold" was $22,350.

A few things to note…did you know?

If a child is not proficient in reading AND is “poor”, that child is 13 times less likely to graduate than their more affluent and proficient peers.

In addition, a dropout is more than eight times as likely to be incarcerated as a person with at least a high school diploma

In the United States, 40% of young adults (ages 16-24) lacking a high school diploma received some type of government assistance

A few things to note…did you know?

28.5 % of students are Disciplinary Placements

69.7 % of WISD students are coded at-risk.

Waco Graduation Rate is 85%

How Can Reading Clubs Help?

Reading Clubs are an “easy win” form of

mentoring.

Mentoring Is…

Consistently sharing life for the purpose of helping

someone else grow.

What is Mentoring?

Mentor

Mentee

“Comments from study participants indicate that their mentors weren’t necessarily doing anything extraordinary, just being involved and treating the young person as an important human being,” Erikson said in a study on the Benefit Of A Mentor: Disadvantaged Teens Twice as Likely To Attend College.

Why do reading clubs work?

“Kids need one positive adult caring relationship in order to have a chance at a productive life.”

Dr. Del ElliottSenior Scientific research for the University of Colorado

There are 8 resources people in poverty draw from:

1. Social Systems-Having friends, family, and backup resources available to access in times of need ;EXTERNAL

2. Emotional-the person can choose and control emotional responses, especially to negative situations, without engaging in self destructive behavior; INTERNAL=stamina, perseverance, and choices

3. Financial-Money to purchase goods and services.

4. Spiritual-believing in divine purpose and guidance.

5. Physical-having physical health and mobility.

6. Mental-having the mental ability and acquired skills (reading, writing, and computing) to deal with daily life.

7. Support Systems-Having friends, family, and backup resources available to access in times of need; EXTERNAL

8. Relationships/ Role Models-Having frequent access to adults who are appropriate, nurturing, and who do not engage in self destructive behavior

A person only needs three resources to help them make choices out

of generational poverty!

Reading Clubs can offer these resources….

Relationship/ Role Model

Spiritual

Support Systems

Emotional- helping train children how to respond instead of react to situations

Research indicates that youth benefit from meeting with an adult Some of the benefits include:

Better attitudes about school Higher college enrollment rates and higher educational

aspirations Enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence Improved behavior at home and school Stronger relationships with parents, teachers and peers Improved interpersonal skills Decreased likelihood of dropping out of school

*As a general rule, youth who are disadvantaged, or at-risk, stand to gain the most from mentoring.

“Potential is sometimes squashed by the social environment, and the data show that mentors can overcome these forces,” said Lance Erickson, a sociology professor at Brigham Young University and the study’s lead author.

Study Conducted by East Tennessee State University:A study found that a one year investment in at-risk middle school students produced a statistically significant difference in:

GPAs increased in 94% of the students

Discipline Referrals decreased in 94% of the students.

Attendance rates improved in 96% of the students.

How to get involved:

Reading Clubs-30 minutes once a week with a small group, no more than three students, reading books and talking about them.

Results are based on 2 months of participation in Reading Club.

Oct. 2012 Nov. 2012Student Reading LevelStudent 1 2.5Student 2 2.5Student 3 2.7Student 4 2.7Student 5 2.8

Student Reading LevelStudent 1 3.7Student 2 3.1Student 3 4.2Student 4 3.3Student 5 3.5

Student were selected based on their tier 2 status. They were targeted as either needing intervention or urgent intervention in Reading.

Reading Club Results

“Two things that help one move out of poverty are education and

RELATIONSHIPS.”

What Could Happen?

Currently for each student that drops out of Waco ISD, Waco loses $300,000+ in forgone income, tax revenues, and increased job training, welfare, unemployment and criminal justice costs

If just 100 students chose not to drop out each year, that would save the city of Waco $30 Million over their lifetimes

In just 10 years, the City of Waco would save $300 Million

Just 100 Students

Do you have 30mins?

Will you join with us to help end poverty in this next generation?

Our Goal: 1,000 Reading Clubs