Literacy Programs

Sixty children from three different Lakota elementary schools participated in this year's program attending weekly tutoring sessions to gain critical literacy skills.  Volunteers and dedicated teaching staff at each Lakota school building made this year's program possible.  The children grew to love their familiar faces and were sad to learn the program was ending this week. We are grateful for the dedication and sacrifice each of our dear volunteers provided our students every week! A special thank you to Judy Jackson who coordinated our volunteer schedules and communication.  We also wish to thank our donors who allow us to provide this program at no cost to students in need each school year.   

The program was expanded to three locations in 2023 due to the success of the pilot the previous year.  48 Lakota elementary students participated in the weekly program at one of the three locations.   Teaching staff, snacks and literacy materials were provided by the Faith Alliance thanks to our generous donors! 

In response to the need for year round literacy tutoring, a pilot after school tutoring program was launched at Creekside Elementary School in 2022 with 20 elementary students participating on Thursdays each week.  The program ran November through April with all students showing improvement!

On average, 41 children in grades 1 through 6 are served each year in the Summer Literacy Program.  The program is designed to help readers from low-income Lakota families to hold or even improve their reading levels over the summer. Traditionally, children experience a summer slide in reading levels and the impact is even more pronounced in low-income families due to lack of resources at home. 

35 struggling Lakota readers completed our 8-week summer literacy program at Woodland Elementary School in 2024.  Our research based phonics curriculum gave students essential phonics and handwriting skills proven to improve literacy levels.  Busing, teaching staff, snacks, books and a personal Chromebook for each student were provided by a 3-year Ohio Department of Education grant which ended this year.  Thank you to Dr. Christy Williams continues to direct this impactful program for our community!

42 Lakota students completed our 8-week summer literacy program.  The program taught students essential phonics and handwriting skills proven to improve literacy levels.  Busing, teaching staff, snacks, books and a personal Chromebook for each student were provided by the Ohio Department of Education grant we were awarded last year.  We hit our goal of having 1:1 student-tutor ratio most days this year thanks to many wonderful volunteers, including several high school student volunteers.  100% of the students who completed the program showed improvement on the end-of-program assessment!  Thank you to Dr. Christy Williams who developed the curriculum and continues to direct this program for our community!

53 struggling Lakota students completed an expanded 8-week literacy program which equipped the emerging readers with phonics and handwriting skills crucial for success in the classroom.  Busing, teaching staff, healthy snacks, books, blankets, lunches and a personal Chromebook for each student were provided thanks to generous donors.  Four teachers, 3 Spanish speaking interns and 35 volunteers (averaging 15 a day) helped EVERY student to improve/achieve new literacy skills!

37 Lakota students completed the 6-week literacy program.  Students practiced phonics, handwriting skills and played fun literacy games with the teaching staff, interns and many volunteers.  Personal Chromebooks were gifted to each student who completed the program.  The overall average success rate of the program in 2021 was 100 percent!  Success is measured by testing before and after the class. The average success rate means that 100 percent of the children participating in the program improved their literacy skills over the summer months. 

Due to COVID-19 constraints in 2020, only 14 Lakota students registered for the program. However, the children who attended in 2020 benefited greatly from an adapted program. A tremendous response from donors enabled a special incentive in 2020 of gifting each child who attended and did the work a new Samsung Chromebook computer along with a Walmart gift card and gift basket!