POVERTY IS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF CHILD ILLITERACY
A society must be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members—its children. The "State of America’s Children" 2020 makes it abundantly clear that by this measure, America is falling shamefully short*.
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The number of low-income students more than doubled between the 2000 and 2013.
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Trapped in inequitable schools, low-income students suffer academically. More than 70 percent of low-income eighth grade students were not proficient in reading or math in 2019.
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More than 60% of low-income families have no children’s books in their home.
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More than 50% of low-income fourth graders score below basic level on national literacy assessments compared to just 20% of their more affluent peers.
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Children living in poverty who can’t read at grade level by the end of third grade are 13 times less likely to graduate high school with their more affluent peers.
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As these children progress through school they fall further and further behind, until they run out of time to catch up.
*savethechildren.org
OUR PROGRAM
LITERACY PROGRAMS
The Program will be offered at no cost to struggling early learners referred to us by their teachers as needing help learning to read.
BE THE CHANGE
LEARNING PROGRAMS
The Program will be offered using age-appropriate science-based texts and materials as well as basic phonics instruction where needed.
OUR PROGRAMS
Dream Big. READ!
In the United States, 18% of children currently live in poverty.
Someone Cares Soup Kitchen 2018
Oakview Elementary 2019
Stand up for Kids 2018
Ms Martinez’ 5th Grade Class 2019
CURRENT PROGRAM
EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM
Boys & Girls Club
Huntington Beach, California
50 struggling learners
The Children’s Literacy Initiative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit working with pre-k through 5th grade teachers to improve early literacy instruction so that children become powerful readers, writers, and thinkers.
Our Goal is to close the literacy achievement gap between disadvantaged children and their more affluent peers.
https://cli.org/about-us/
OUR TUTORS
Our tutors are supervised by professional educators. Each tutor receives a background check and is covered by liability insurance.
Curriculum. Our Curriculum is based on the Reading for Success Initiative developed by Reading is Fundamental, the largest nonprofit in the United States devoted to supporting the teaching of early literacy. The RFS Initiative utilizes science-based texts and materials to teach literacy. The Initiative has proven to be particularly effective with children from poor backgrounds.
Our Program utilizes texts, materials and lesson plans which we purchase from Reading is Fundamental. Although the Program uses science-based materials to teach literacy, no special knowledge of science is required of our tutors. Much additional support material also is provided by RIF.
Help us to make a difference in the life of a child.
For more information, to volunteer as a tutor/reading coach, or to make a donation of money or used books please contact:
James Russ, Founder
Todos Santos Foundation
220 Newport Center Drive, Ste 11-280
Newport Beach, CA 92660
JamesRuss@TodosSantosFoundation.org
