In Palm Beach County public schools, the percentage of third grade students reading below grade level is now at 46%. Most of these students spent their kindergarten and first grade trying to learn virtually as schools were closed due to the pandemic and these students are now trying to catch up.
Children learn to read in Kindergarten through third grade, and read to learn in grades four and above. The Literacy Coalition has partnered with the School District of Palm Beach County for the past 10 years to help remedy this lack of reading skills. Volunteers are recruited, trained and supported to tutor these struggling readers.
FREE After School Tutoring — Help your child become a reader!
Register your student for the 2024-2025 school year now and for individual tutoring in reading comprehension for students in first through fourth grade. Studies show students may lose up to two months of reading proficiency over the summer, and more than half of the reading achievement gap is attributed to unequal access to summer learning opportunities. That’s where the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County can help.
We’ve expanded our after school tutoring program to help students improve their reading. We recently trained an additional 35 Building Better Readers tutors, bringing our total number of reading tutors to 285. Students who’ve completed first through third grade can receive free in-person, one-to-one tutoring at the Coalition in Boynton Beach for one hour per week on the following days and times through the current school year:
- Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays:
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. or 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. - Blume Literacy Center,
3651 Quantum Blvd., Boynton Beach
- Tuesdays: 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. or 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
- Palm Beach County Main Library,
3650 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach
- Thursdays: 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. or 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
- Lantana Public Library,
205 W. Ocean Ave., Lantana
Become a Volunteer Tutor and Help a Child Learn to Read
Children learn to read in Kindergarten through third grade, and read to learn in grades four and above. The Literacy Coalition has partnered with the School District of Palm Beach County for the past 10 years to help remedy this lack of reading skills. Volunteers are recruited, trained and supported to tutor these struggling readers.
You can register for the training to become a volunteer tutor and view the upcoming schedule, below.
Volunteer Tutor Training:
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Training Location:
Blume Literacy Center, 3651 Quantum Blvd., Boynton Beach
Time: 9:30 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.
Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. Training for tutoring will be provided by the Literacy Coalition.
For more information, contact:
Jeanne Heavilin (561) 767-3366 | JHeavilin@LiteracyPBC.org
Karen Garcia (561) 767-3354 | KGarcia@LiteracyPBC.org
The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County is an equal-opportunity employer/program. If you have a disability that requires special services, call us at (561) 279-9103 to ensure the availability of appropriate accommodations.
By The Numbers
418
first through third grade students that were tutored in classrooms at 32 elementary schools by 188 volunteer tutors.
50
volunteers tutored 92 first through fourth grade students after school, both virtually and in-person at the Literacy Coalition.
73
of the 510 students tutored ended the year at least 50% closer to grade level than when they began the year and 25% ended the year reading on grade level.
Success Story
Continue Reading”The Literacy Coalition, in partnership with the School District of Palm Beach County, created the Building Better Readers program to help students accomplish grade level reading. Now in its 10th year, Building Better Readers has expanded to serve 510 students from first through fourth grade in 33 schools and after school locations throughout Palm Beach County. The program has trained community volunteers who...
Community Impact
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In 2022-2023, the Coalition provided tutoring to 328 first and second-grade students that were tutored in classrooms at 28 elementary schools by 152 volunteer tutors.
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51 volunteers tutored 88 first through fourth-grade students after school, both virtually and in person at the Literacy Coalition.
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Of the 416 students tutored in 2022-2023, 78% of them ended the year at least 50% closer to grade level than when they began the year and 30% actually ended the year on grade level.
Thank You to Our Partners and Program Funders
