| The America Reads Challenge is a grassroots national campaign, initiated by former President Bill Clinton in 1997, that challenges every American to help all our children learn to read, including English Language Learners and students with disabilities. America Reads sparks collaborations between educators, parents, librarians, business people, senior citizens, college students, and community and religious groups. |
| The University of Washington began participating in the America Reads program Fall Quarter 1997. The program currently supports over 100 work-study tutors who tutor at over 40 different sites in the greater Seattle area. The program is supported by UW Office of Student Financial Aid, in partnership with the UW College of Education, and coordinated by a graduate student assistant. Dr. Roxanne Hudson, from the College of Education, donates her time yearly to conduct a 6-hour training program in the fall, as well as two Saturday "reflection" sessions. |
| The UW acts as the employer of record for students placed as tutors in the public schools and handles the payroll, but the individual schools perform their own screening and background checks, supervise the students on-site, and co-sign the work study timesheets. Students perform tutoring activities in a variety of ways, primarily one-on-one, but also in small groups and in classroom activities, assisting reading support teachers, and helping in after-school and Saturday special classes. |
