Avondale school’s literacy hub shows promising results, boosting reading scores
The hub engages both students and their parents in after school tutoring
AVONDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — School districts nationwide are looking for ways to improve reading test scores. The Avondale Elementary District’s “Literacy Hub” at Lattie Coor School may be part of the solution.
The hub launched in 2022 as a way to get parents reading with their kids. When the hub is in session, students are in a classroom learning with a teacher, and their parents are around the corner in a different room attending class.
The program was created with help from grants from the Valley of the Sun United Way. Community Development Director Dawn Gerundo says they’ve found parental involvement is key to making a difference.
“I think that is the sweet spot,” she said. “We’re really working together as a community, How do we wrap ourselves around what the community needs? How do we engage the families to come along with us. What do the families need to be able to answer the questions for their students?”
United Way officials say the program is already showing success.
Students tutored in the program showed a 32% increase in benchmark growth compared to 29% for students schoolwide.
Ninety-nine percent of parents in the program reported improved confidence. When Arizona’s Family visited the hub, parents were learning how important it is for students to learn a routine, go to bed early and prepare their school bags and clothes the night before.
Isabel Garcia’s kindergarten son Benjamin attend the hub. We asked her if she felt she’d get as much out of the program if it was simply tutoring for Benjamin and not a joint effort with parents.
“I don’t think so,” she said. “I don’t think I would. I think coming to the classes made me more educated with my two smaller kids than it did with my older ones.” She wishes the program was around when she was raising her older children.
The United Way is helping to run three literacy hubs right now, including Lattie Coor, Sullivan and Peralta. They hope to expand the program based on its success.
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