Volunteer Program Works To Improve Reading Levels For Tulsa Students

A volunteer program is trying to help improve reading levels at Tulsa Public Schools with a new campaign that kicks off Monday.

Reading Partners just reached its 10-year milestone in Tulsa. It's celebrating by launching a campaign to add 100 reading sessions with students in just 10 days.

The program works with 24 Tulsa schools to offer in-person and virtual tutoring to K through 4th grade students, all with the help of volunteers from the community.

Forty-one percent of students at Tulsa Public Schools in K through 8th grade are reading at a basic level, according to State Superintendent Ryan Walters.

TPS Superintendent Doctor Ebony Johnson said the district's goal is to increase basic reading levels by 5-percent a year.

And with only about 12 weeks left in the school year, organizers said now is a great time for volunteers to get involved.

"If you're not reading proficient in 4th grade, it makes everything after that so much harder. I need my reading skills to do math problems. I need my reading skills to study history after that. So there's urgency in making sure students really have the tools that they need before they hit that 4th grade transition," said Olivia Martin, Reading Partners Tulsa Executive Director.

Reading Partners' 10 day initiative starts Monday, January 29 and runs through February 9.

CLICK HERE for information on how to volunteer.