The Jewish Coaltion for literacy- helping one kid learn to read at a time

Inspired by the Jewish values of social justice, the JCL fosters literacy among underserved students (in grades K-3) in public school throughout the bay area, by providing them with volunteer tutors. The JCL recruits, trains, places and supports these tutors in public elementary schools throughout the Bay Area.



How to get involved :
Become a tutor! Spend at least one hour once a week reading with children at an elementary school or after-school program. Daytime, afternoon, and early evening hours are available. In most cases, volunteers are paired with students for once a week tutoring.

Or...

Help organize a book drive! Through synagogue book drives, Bat Mitzvah centerpieces and individual donations, the JCL collects thousands of books for partner sites. You can help organize a book drive for your organization during the coming year. Not everyone has the time to be a tutor but everyone can help aquire books.



Did you know?
- When the state of Arizona projects how many prison beds it will need, it factors in the number of kids who read well in fourth grade.


- 44% of American 4th grade students cannot read fluently, even when they read grade level stories aloud under supportive testing conditions


- In middle income neighborhoods there are on average 13 books for every child. yet in low-income neighborhoods there is only one book for every 300 children.


- it is estimated that the cost of illiteracy to business and the taxpayer is $20 billion per year.


For these reasons and many more, the JCL strives to serve struggling students throughout the peninsula. Join the JCL and learn how you to can help promote literacy and inspire children to keep on learning. For more information please go to: www.jclread.org