START THE ADVENTURE IN READING INC

Programs: Every year, STAIR?s tutoring program begins with the start of the academic school year. STAIR staff recruits volunteers from throughout the community, training and supervising them to provide tutoring services in reading and language skills to second grade public school students. STAIR?s focus has always been on students in second grade?a critical developmental year. In the STAIR program, students and their tutors meet after school or on Saturday to work on reading and language skills. The STAIR program works in partnership with the public schools, supplementing classroom work and catching some of the students who fall through the system?s cracks. Collaboration with parents, teachers, and principals allows STAIR to target the students who can most benefit from the services STAIR offers. Of its 26 tutoring sites in the metropolitan area, 18 are in Orleans Parish: Algiers United Methodist Church (serving students from Behrman Elementary School), Ben Franklin Elementary School, Berean Presbyterian Church (serving students from Sylvanie Williams, Harney and McDonogh #42), Capdau UNO Charter School, Carrollton Church of Christ, (serving students from Esperanza Charter), Community Church Unitarian Universalist, (serving students from Dibert Elementary), Dillard University (serving students from Gentilly Terrace UNO Charter School), Dryades YMCA (serving students from Singleton Charter School), Fischer Elementary School, Holy Angels Congregational Center (serving students from Drew Elementary), Lafayette Academy, Nelson UNO Charter School, Open World Family Services (serving students from Schaumburg Elementary School), Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church (serving students from Bauduit Elementary School and Wilson Charter School), St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church (serving students from Bethune Elementary School and New Orleans Free Academy), Tulane University-Reily Center (serving students from Banneker Elementary School and Johnson Elementary School), and Woodland Presbyterian Church (serving students from Eisenhower Elementary School and Harte Elementary School). STAIR is serving nearly 250 children from 33 public schools at 26 tutoring sites during the 2008-2009 school year. This service is offered at no cost to the student or family. The STAIR program benefits both the child and the family. As part of its continuing effort to involve families, STAIR is working with the schools and several local community partners to provide meaningful and entertaining literacy activities for STAIR children and their families.