Reading Empowers Inc

The Statistics
According to a 2011 study conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 71 percent of fourth graders in New York's public schools are reading below proficient levels. A study of New York City's public school's eighth graders revealed that an even higher percentage, 76 percent, are reading below proficient levels.

The Challenge

Students who lack proficiency in reading and writing are at high risk for failure in content subjects and are ultimately less likely to pursue post-secondary education. Research has shown that developing reading skills at an early age is crucial for a student’s intellectual development and future academic success.

Our Mission

Reading Empowers was formed for the sole purpose of improving literacy in New York City; specifically, our mission is to promote literacy among students in New York City's elementary schools. We host Saturday morning reading clubs, in which trained adult volunteers engage students in reading age-appropriate material and facilitate discussions around the stories' main ideas. Our goal is to instill in young students, at a very early age, an interest in reading, with the hopes that this will develop into a lifelong love and passion.

Reading Empowers is incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of New York and recognized as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization by the IRS.

- See more at: http://readingempowers.org/content/about-us#sthash.Jp1EyTac.dpuf