LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Education is the cornerstone of individual and community success and reading is a core building block.

Yet, in Lake County, less than 25 percent of third graders are reading at grade level.

Those students who continue to struggle with reading into adulthood are likely to have trouble finding and keeping a job with a livable wage and health benefits.

In an effort to help improve student reading scores, United Way of the Wine Country is partnering with North Coast Opportunities Volunteer Network and local schools to offer the Schools of Hope program in two new schools this year, beginning in October.

The program is now serving Lakeport Elementary and Kelseyville Elementary schools.

This fall two new schools will come on board – Lucerne Elementary and Riviera Elementary.

Schools of Hope is an early intervention strategy for children (K-3) who struggle with reading. This model is based on best practices from Dane County, Wisconsin, where in 10 years it virtually eliminated the achievement gap.

The success of this program depends upon volunteers willing to work one on one with students for 30 minutes a week.

“It was wonderful experience for the tutors and the students,” said Kathy Windrem, a Schools of Hope tutor at Kelseyville Elementary. “I loved getting to know my second grade student and watch his progress. Each week I looked forward to seeing him and he was always excited to see me too. Toward the end of the school year, he asked me to read a story to his entire class.”

Those who wish to tutor more than one student may do so provided they are able to commit an additional 30 minutes of volunteer time per student.

Training and materials will be provided so tutors can feel confident.

Is it successful?

An evaluation of Schools of Hope by Sonoma State University found that first- and second-grade students who received tutoring showed reading proficiency growth between 28-percent and 50-percent higher than non-Schools of Hope students who started with similar scores.

An information and orientation session will be held at North Coast Opportunities (NCO) in Lakeport on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. and on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 10 a.m.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer or hearing more about the program should plan to attend.

NCO is located at 850 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.

For more information or to RSVP for the orientation/information session, please call the NCO Volunteer Network at 707-462-1959 or email Joan Reynolds at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..