1. Accelerating Early Literacy: The Power of AmeriCorps Fall 2011

2. First you learn to read,

3. and then you read to learn.

4. Our shared vision: All children reading by third grade.

5. When we blend the power of national service and 787 AmeriCorps members…

6. …with the science of how children learn to read,

7. we get real, measurable results that are helping to close Minnesota’s unacceptable achievement gap.

8. In 2010, 2,124 or 7 of 10 MRC students met proficiency standards on Minnesota state assessment tests.

9. Nearly 80% of K-3 students served by the MRC exceeded their growth targets.

10. MRC preschool students outperformed their peers in a five-year study.

11. The Minnesota Reading Corps is the largest statewide initiative to help Minnesota children become successful readers by the end of third grade.

12. Schools apply to be a MRC site. This year, our 787 members are serving in 478 sites in 126 school districts across Minnesota.

13. With the support of the Governor, legislature, Target and United Way, we will serve 50% more struggling readers this biennium and increase our corps to over 1,000.

14. Key Reading Corps Elements Age 3 to Grade 3 literacy targets Mobilization of well-trained AmeriCorps tutors Research-based literacy interventions Progress monitoring and data informs instruction Alignment with school-day instruction Coaching model ensures implementation fidelity Education partners – School districts, Head Start

15. Bringing Minnesota Reading Corps to your school district

16. Get started by reading the Guide to Applying to Minnesota Reading Corps (www.minnesotareadingcorps.org/get-involved/become-a-site) Learn about expectations and responsibilities --commitment to the MRC model --AmeriCorps service environment --staff support and critical role of internal coach --member recruitment and selection process --student data collection and assessments

17. Sign up to be notified of when the application for the 2012-13 school year is released. (http://fs16.formsite.com/soconnor/form704911684/index.html) Historically, the application has opened on December 1 Applications are due in early January Sites are notified of MRC member awards in February Returning sites complete an abbreviated application

18. Please contact us! Kathy Saltzman, Executive Director ksaltzman@mnedc.org 612-206-3045 Sadie O’Connor, Program Director soconnor@mnedc.org 612-206-3043