Starting in early 2023, 1,000 Marion County students in grades K-3 will have an opportunity to be tutored in reading as part of a new program.
The city partnered with RISE Indy, Indianapolis Public Schools, Metropolitan School District of Warren Township and the City-County Council to announce the $1 million Circle City Readers initiative.
“Reading is an essential element to a successful, fulfilling life,” said Jasmin Shaheed-Young, president and CEO of RISE Indy.
City officials and education leaders announced the yearlong program Oct. 11.
The Circle City Readers initiative will give students a chance to work with tutors on their reading skills in small groups with a focus on those who demonstrate the greatest need.
Experts say Indianapolis’ literacy rate for students finishing third grade has been too low for nearly a decade.
Results from the state’s most recent reading assessment for third graders — called I-READ — showed about 67% of Black students in Marion County school districts passed the exam, compared to 81% of all students statewide.
“Circle City Readers will work alongside preexisting efforts to boost childhood literacy,” Hogsett said. “This is an added resource for an issue that should grab our entire community’s attention.”
At the start of the program, students will take a test to find their current literacy level and throughout the program students will be given several tests to track their progress.
For more information on enrollment visit circlecityreaders.org.
Contact staff writer Timoria Cunningham at 317-762-7854 or timoriac@indyrecorder.com Follow here on Twitter @_timoriac.
