Academic Improvement

The Austin Project has a 12 year history of working in partnership with AISD to enhance the academic opportunities for students in low income schools. These activities have included summer academies, after-school programs and math and science programs in the classroom.

Step Into Reading is a current initiative to provide leveled reading materials for classrooms. The purpose of the program is to improve reading skills by increasing the time students spend reading at home, at school, and with their parents, and by building home and school libraries with leveled readers appropriate to student reading skills.

The proposal includes funds to purchase a 200 book leveled reading library for each pre-K to 3rd grade classroom in selected schools. Students in these classes would select their favorite book to take home at the end of each semester.

Strategies include:

• Develop an implementation plan which identifies corporate contributions, participating schools, a budget, and operation guidelines.
• Work with school personnel to identify existing curriculum tools to encourage reading comprehension and to document reading time.
• Identify community partners to sponsor schools and purchase classroom libraries.
• Identify ways to recognize donors and corporate partners.

For more information, contact
TAP Executive Director Donna Hagey
414-6825
donna@theaustinproject.org