National Reading Program Set For Tulsa Students

Most Oklahoma 4th graders are not reading on their grade level. Because of that fact, there is a new program set to go into 9 Tulsa elementary schools this year. The plan is to give children and families more support.

McClure Elementary school is on of the selected sites. McClure, like several other schools, opened its doors to hundreds of children this summer. Some showed up because they wanted to learn, others because they needed more help to move on.

This coming school year, McClure and 8 other schools will offer a new program called Reading Partners. It is a national non-profit that trains volunteers to work as reading mentors with children.

The summer school students are trying to stay on top of their reading. But there are other students who are from six months to two years behind and Reading Partners will be there for them.

“Intensive support, a couple of times a week and what is great about it, it is going to pull them up to their grade level and then work with them throughout the year. Maybe get them beyond where they need to be,” said Summer School Principal, Ramona Gestland.

This coming year, McClure will have a literacy center with a full time staff member, along with other participating schools.

McClure, Kendall Whittier and Eugene Field are some of the elementary schools that will be a part. The George Kaiser Foundation and others are helping with funds

Kim Jackson / KTUL Tulsa Channel 8/ Source