Reading Coaches

     The Reading Coaches program provides one-on-one attention to struggling middle school readers in this state-certified mentoring program in 6 school districts.  The program was launched in 2004.  Currently, there are 50 volunteers who assist 96 students.

     The program has made a great impact in the reading abilities of these students.  80% of the school-identified students who met weekly with Reading Coaches improved their grade level by 0.5 or more.

     RSVP of North Central Iowa's Reading Coaches program has recently become the first RSVP program in the state to become a certified mentoring program through the Iowa Mentoring Partnership, a program of the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service.

     To be certified, programs must meet all 10 standards of effective practice as recognized by the Iowa Mentoring Partnership.

     These standards have been shown to increase the likelihood of positive outcomes for the mentors and mentees who participate in these programs.

     One of the goals of the partnership is to assist all mentoring programs in Iowa with the certification process so that quality programs are available throughout the state.

     Learn more here...

     Click Here to read a Reading Coach story