Akron Reads Home

Celebrating 10 Years of Success Helping Students Reach Their Literacy Potential!

AkronReads is a community tutoring partnership between the Akron Public Schools and local businesses, government agencies, nonprofit and civic organizations. For 10 years, from the beginning of the 1999 school year through the 2008-2009 school year, thousands of trained literacy tutors have helped Akron students K-3 to reach new goals in achieving literacy and competence.

AkronReads was based on former Gov. Bob Taft’s OhioReads initiative, one of the key components of the Ohio Department of Education’s Ohio Literacy Initiative. This program is no longer a state funded project. Because of the program's local success, however, the Akron Public Schools district continues to provide funds for this initiative.

AkronReads has become the model for collaborative tutoring partnerships in Ohio. Since its inception, Akron-area businesses, government agencies, nonprofit and civic organizations have committed the time and financial resources needed to help make a significant difference in the reading test scores of students in the Akron Public Schools.

Our Goals

The AkronReads Business Partnership strives for continuous improvement in our community tutoring partnership! Our goals are to:

Help students improve their reading skills and foster an appreciation for reading that will brighten their future.

Recruit and train tutors to provide one-on-one reading assistance for students in grades K-5 in the Akron Public Schools.

Nurture students with knowledge, compassion, and moral fortitude.

Assist business, government, nonprofit and civic organizations in developing, managing and sustaining an AkronReads partnership with the Akron Public Schools.

Increase the number of community partners in the program.

"One of the takeaways that I get from tutoring is that helping a young child learn to read does so much for that child, but it also really helps me. It makes me slow down and remember what life is like through the eyes of a child. With layoffs and the economy it is very easy to get caught up in 'me' and everything that is wrong with the world...but I always feel great leaving tutoring and knowing that I have helped a child. It is a break from 'adult reality', and to hear my tutored child say that Friday is his favorite day because of AkronReads makes me feel really great. Knowing that you are making a difference is a win-win for the child and for the tutor."

Sue
Akron Beacon Journal

How AkronReads Works

The leadership of an Akron-area business, government agency, nonprofit or civic organization commits to having its employees tutor elementary school children in the Akron Public Schools. The tutoring commitment is one hour a week from the first week in October through the last week in March, but longer tutoring arrangements can be established by mutual agreement between your school principal and your employees.

AkronReads partner organizations are encouraged to work closely with their school principal and program coordinator(s) to establish a partnership that meets the needs of both parties, i.e., the day(s) and time(s) of the week for tutoring, parking arrangements, building procedures, etc.

There are several ways the AkronReads tutoring partnership can work, depending on the needs of both parties. Ideally, one employee will work one-on-one for one hour a week with one student. Variations on this include:

Two employees share tutoring responsibilities for one student. The tutors act as a team, alternating weeks, and back each other up in the event that one of them is unable to make his/her session. This acts to reduce the time commitment, as well as ensure that the student is not disappointed by a tutor not showing up.
Some principals have found it helpful to have tutors work with two students within that one-hour time frame. Tutors should understand that this reduces the amount of time - due to preparation and getting settled in - that they get to spend with students.

All new tutors must receive free tutor training by the staff of the Akron Public Schools. The AkronReads partners are asked to host the training at their respective locations, and/or join the training sessions at other partner locations. Employees of your organization may be required to undergo a background check paid for by the Akron Public Schools.

Participating organizations are asked to designate an employee to serve on the AkronReads Business Partnership Steering Committee to (1) learn how to manage the organization’s program most effectively, and (2) to help guide the AkronReads program and initiatives. The Committee meets the fourth Tuesday of the month during the school year, except in December.

How AkronReads Works The leadership of an Akron-area business, government agency, nonprofit or civic organization commits to having its employees tutor elementary school children in the Akron Public Schools. The tutoring commitment is one hour a week from the first week in October through the last week in March, but longer tutoring arrangements can be established by mutual agreement between your school principal and your employees. AkronReads partner organizations are encouraged to work closely with their school principal and program coordinator(s) to establish a partnership that meets the needs of both parties, i.e., the day(s) and time(s) of the week for tutoring, parking arrangements, building procedures, etc. There are several ways the AkronReads tutoring partnership can work, depending on the needs of both parties. Ideally, one employee will work one-on-one for one hour a week with one student. Variations on this include: Two employees share tutoring responsibilities for one student. The tutors act as a team, alternating weeks, and back each other up in the event that one of them is unable to make his/her session. This acts to reduce the time commitment, as well as ensure that the student is not disappointed by a tutor not showing up. Some principals have found it helpful to have tutors work with two students within that one-hour time frame. Tutors should understand that this reduces the amount of time - due to preparation and getting settled in - that they get to spend with students. All new tutors must receive free tutor training by the staff of the Akron Public Schools. The AkronReads partners are asked to host the training at their respective locations, and/or join the training sessions at other partner locations. Employees of your organization may be required to undergo a background check paid for by the Akron Public Schools. Participating organizations are asked to designate an employee to serve on the AkronReads Business Partnership Steering Committee to (1) learn how to manage the organization’s program most effectively, and (2) to help guide the AkronReads program and initiatives. The Committee meets the fourth Tuesday of the month during the school year, except in December.
We Need Tutors!!! Click here to see which schools need your help.