Northwestwrc.org

        The Northwest Washington Reading Corps is an AmeriCorps program committed to improving reading abilities of young students across northwest Washington through research-based tutoring of struggling readers and effective collaborations among schools, families, community members, national service, business and state partners. Members of theNorthwest Washington Reading Corps are also involved in their communities beyond serving in schools, participating in important days of service and volunteering their time at local non-profit organizations. Specialties - education, literacy, social media
        The Northwest Washington Reading Corps understands the deeper importance of national service and how it impacts individuals, communities and our country. Since 1994, AmeriCorps programs nationwide have given individuals the tools necessary to address some of our country's most pressing needs. Through national service, people of all ages and backgrounds are afforded the opportunity to learn, grow and give back in a meaningful way.
        Additionally, the NWWRC is committed to fostering understanding, communication and respect among all people involved in the organization, including people of different races, religions, ages, genders, political affiliation, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, national origins, sexual preferences or orientations, medical conditions or disabilities, and marital, veteran or family statuses. We believe we should capitalize on the strengths emanating from these differences.
        Governor Gary Locke, Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson and the State Legislature created the Washington Reading Corps in 1998 to help kindergarten through sixth graders who need help in reading. The Washington Reading Corps represents a unique collaboration among schools, community groups, and businesses. Strong reading skills are essential to a student's success in virtually all areas of learning. We know that students who cannot read by the end of the third grade will continue to fall behind in school, and we must help kids before this happens. We know that tutoring works! Each year thousands of Washingtonians like you are helping struggling readers reach grade level in reading. We need your help to continue and expand this dynamic effort that is successfully helping students to boost vocabulary and reading comprehension. Together we are preparing them to meet the challenges of higher levels of learning and achievement.
        The Washington Reading Corps offers two ways for you to help promote literacy:
1. Volunteer to tutor a struggling reader. Anyone willing to give one hour a week to help a child read can become a tutor. All tutors receive training and are supervised by certified staff at the schools.
2. Make a contribution to a Reading Corps school. Businesses and foundations can make direct contributions of cash, in-kind resources and products to schools on a statewide basis or to specific schools.

        The Washington Service Corps (WSC) was created by the Washington state Legislature in 1983 to give young adults 18 to 25 years old opportunities to serve their communities. The Washington Service Corps is a national service AmeriCorps program administered by the Washington State Employment Security Department. When the national AmeriCorps program began in 1994, the WSC became part of the national service movement and now all WSC members are also AmeriCorps members and the age restriction was lifted - members may be 17 years old and older. Today, more than 900 members serve statewide in the Washington Service Corps.
        The Washington Service Corps works with nonprofit organizations and local governments to address a variety of unmet and pressing community needs. WSC helps Washington's citizens meet those needs by supplying AmeriCorps members who volunteer to serve, contributing their passion, commitment, hard work and skills.e WSC is administered by the Washington State Employment Security Department with federal funding provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The WSC is part of Employment Security's Human Resource Services Division.

        At this moment, you are doing something that is a huge challenge for almost 40% of our children - reading. If a child can't read well by the end of third grade, odds are that he or she will never catch up. And the effects of falling behind and feeling like a failure can be devastating since 80% of children who exit elementary school not reading at grade level will eventually drop out of middle or high school. The good news is that with early interventions, most long-term reading problems can be prevented. Created in 1998, the Washington Reading Corps (WRC) has served as a national model to improve the reading abilities of thousands of struggling readers in kindergarten through sixth grade.
        The WRC engages 260 AmeriCorps members as trained literacy tutors in 76 elementary schools and 24 early learning sites throughout Washington. Some AmeriCorps members provide direct service to preschool children to develop early literacy skills, oral language, and kindergarten readiness. Members also build capacity and sustainability by improving parent and family support through outreach and education services to families with young children. In addition, members recruit and train thousands of community volunteers as tutors, and engage students in peer and cross-age tutoring opportunities. A few highlights from the 2009-2010 school year:
    * 7,484 struggling readers were tutored by Washington Reading Corps members;
    * 80% of students improved in their reading behaviors, attitudes and self-confidence as reported on teacher assessments;
    * 54% of students who entered the program a grade or more behind in reading met benchmark or gained a grade level in reading; and
    * Washington Reading Corps members recruited 5,157 community volunteers who donated 71,292 hours of tutoring service (valued at $20.85/hr = $1,486,438).
        Are you ready to make a difference in your life and in the lives of those around you? We're looking for heroes - 1,000 heroes who want to join the ranks of more than 75,000 individuals who are currently getting things done for their community and country through AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps is a real-life education and work experience wrapped into one.
        Whether you're tutoring children; building homes; rehabilitating trails and streams; recruiting volunteers; or participating in any of the hundreds of other goal-oriented AmeriCorps projects, you will see results and know that you made a difference. As a member, you'll learn teamwork, leadership, and responsibility; but perhaps the greatest lesson is learning the importance of incorporating service into your life. AmeriCorps offers a variety of both full-time and part-time service opportunities for anyone who is willing to do something special, something exciting, something heroic