UWLC Celebrates 10 Years of Reading Success

Judge Veronica M. O’Malley with students. /Photo: Courtesy UWLC

Lake County Judges Volunteer to Help Waukegan Children Build Literacy Skills
LAKE COUNTY, IL. – United Way of Lake County is proud to announce the 10-year anniversary of its Reading Success program. The program developed by United Way of Lake County helps build literary skills to ensure children are able to read at grade level by the end of third grade. Reading Success targets first through third grade students testing in the 20%-40% percentile in their class for reading and comprehension.
Research shows that most students who are not proficient readers by fourth grade will continue to remain behind throughout their educational career. United Way brings trained volunteer reading tutors into Waukegan Public Schools weekly to tutor students, giving them individualized help to develop reading skills and improve performance.
Lake County Judges have participated in the Reading Success program since it began at North Elementary School ten years ago. They started as a team of four judges and have now grown to a team of fourteen. “I have always believed being able to read well allows a person to take control of their life and be a self-reliant, informed citizen,” said Judge Luis A. Berrones, 19th Judicial Circuit Court. “Not being able to read or not being able to read well deprives a person from being truly independent.”
The most recent Reading Success results demonstrate that first grade students in the program improved 33% more than their non-tutored peers at the same reading level. According to Jennifer Chang, North Elementary first grade teacher, “My students who participate in the Reading Success program always make substantial growth from fall to spring. Not only does their reading get better, but they thrive from the extra attention which boosts their self-confidence.”
“United Way of Lake County’s Reading Success program helps students strengthen their reading abilities,” said Nicole Lemberger, North Elementary Principal. “The students look forward to the time they spend with the judges and sharing the joy of reading.”

10 años de lectura exitosa
United Way of Lake County se enorgullece en anunciar el décimo aniversario de su programa Reading Success. El programa desarrollado por United Way del Condado de Lake ayuda a desarrollar habilidades literarias para garantizar que los niños puedan leer a nivel de grado al final del tercer grado. Reading Success se dirige a los estudiantes de primero a tercer grado que evalúan en el percentil 20% -40% en su clase para lectura y comprensión.
La investigación muestra que la mayoría de los estudiantes que no son lectores competentes para el cuarto grado continuarán atrasados a lo largo de su carrera educativa. United Way trae tutores de lectura voluntarios capacitados a las Escuelas Públicas de Waukegan semanalmente para dar tutoría a los estudiantes, brindándoles ayuda individualizada para desarrollar habilidades de lectura y mejorar el rendimiento.
Los jueces del condado de Lake han participado en el programa Reading Success desde que comenzó en la escuela primaria North hace diez años. Comenzaron como un equipo de cuatro jueces y ahora se han convertido en un equipo de catorce. “Siempre he creído que leer bien le permite a una persona tomar el control de su vida y ser un ciudadano informado e independiente”, dijo el juez Luis A. Berrones, del 19 ° Tribunal de Circuito Judicial. “No poder leer o no leer bien priva a una persona de ser verdaderamente independiente”.
Los resultados más recientes de Lectura exitosa demuestran que los estudiantes de primer grado en el programa mejoraron un 33% más que sus compañeros sin tutoría en el mismo nivel de lectura. Según Jennifer Chang, maestra de primer grado de North Elementary, “Mis alumnos que participan en el programa Reading Success siempre logran un crecimiento sustancial desde el otoño hasta la primavera. No solo mejora su lectura, sino que prosperan gracias a la atención adicional que aumenta su autoestima”.