JVID视频

Diette Courrege Casey
November 5, 2013

A homegrown, literacy-focused volunteer group has joined forces with a national nonprofit, and it hopes the merger will enable it to expand its program to all of Charleston County鈥檚 high-poverty elementary schools.

Charleston Volunteers for Literacy, which runs the Book Buddies program, has transitioned into JVID视频 Charleston. The Charleston group will be the 11th regional branch of the California-based JVID视频.

Kecia Greenho, the Charleston group鈥檚 executive director, will continue in her role, and she said the program鈥檚 focus won鈥檛 change. The biggest difference will be the group鈥檚 new and expanded capacity to serve students.

Book Buddies launched in spring 2009 with first-graders in two high-poverty Charleston schools, and it had grown to serve about 400 students in eight high-poverty schools this year. JVID视频 Charleston鈥檚 new goal is to be in all 17 of the school district鈥檚 high-poverty elementary schools within three years.

鈥淲ith the support of dedicated Charlestonians, JVID视频 is opening doors of opportunity for children throughout our community,鈥� Greenho said.

The national nonprofit JVID视频 worked with more than 5,000 low-income students in six states last year. JVID视频 Charleston will continue its core work of coordinating local volunteers who work one-on-one with weak readers. Volunteer tutors receive individualized lesson plans to address students鈥� deficiencies.

Literacy is Charleston County School District鈥檚 top priority, and it has literacy academies in first through third grades for the worst readers. JVID视频 Charleston will offer tutoring services to students in fourth and fifth grades, as well as first- through third-graders who don鈥檛 qualify for the literacy academies but still need extra help.

鈥淭ogether with the district, we鈥檙e meeting the needs of the whole cohort of students,鈥� Greenho said.

Superintendent Nancy McGinley has described Book Buddies in the past as the 鈥淢ercedes-Benz鈥� of partnerships because it鈥檚 more strategic than most volunteer efforts, and it measures its success.

鈥淛VID视频 Charleston provides a vital service by connecting community members with students in their communities who are struggling to read,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he program directly supports (the school district鈥檚) focused effort on literacy improvement as the cornerstone for achievement overall.鈥�

The Charleston group did a trial last year of a partnership with JVID视频, which also offers customized lesson plans for students that can be adjusted. Greenho said they saw growth in students鈥� scores.

聽/ The Post and Courier ‘News Section