You Can Read!

K-12 STEAM education

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

N'Route Help Heal Organization’s You Can Read! literacy program provides the research-backed early reading intervention needed to help boost achievement for students with below than average state proficiency in language arts for K-5 students. According to Smarter Balance Test Results for Los Angeles Unified K-5 district students 42%tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 30% tested at or above that level for math. Within the past 2 years, approximately 70% of African American students and 60% of Hispanic students did not meet grade level standards in Language Arts. N’Route Help Heal Organization is dedicated to being a pivotal factor to change this landscape by laying the proper literacy foundation for our youth. Our pursuit to improve the literacy amongst the lowest performing students, is in alignment with our mission but also with LAUSD's 100-day plan to prioritize academic support for students in the most need of resources.

Our rigorous, culturally responsive curriculum focuses on building essential literacy and critical thinking abilities. Lessons engage students' interests and backgrounds to impart both core knowledge and skills like problem-solving, communication, and analysis that lead to future success. Skilled, passionate teachers use data-driven instructional methods, captivating technology tools, hands-on projects, peer collaboration, and other proven techniques to challenge students in a supportive environment where effort and growth are recognized and celebrated.
Our whole child approach also develops confidence, resilience, integrity, and other intrapersonal aptitudes students need to manage obstacles. Advisory programs, tutors, counselors, mentors, and community partnerships provide layers of care and support students require to thrive. We facilitate open communication between tutors, staff, and families to identify student needs early and implement appropriate academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and basic needs interventions.
With clear expectations, roles, and opportunities for input, our entire organization is invested in student advancement. We nurture a culture of collective responsibility for empowering students to reach ambitious goals. By igniting their full potential, we enable students to access higher education, meaningful careers, and lives of purpose. Achieve Academy students gain everything they need to become the compassionate leaders and change makers of tomorrow.

You Can Read! improves literacy education for economically disadvantaged students in Los Angeles County, the county will experience profound positive changes. The success of our You Can Read! program will create a ripple effect, lifting entire communities out of poverty and cultivating a more prosperous, equitable, and vibrant Los Angeles County. Improved academic performance, leads to higher graduation rates which translates into increased college enrollment and completion. Advanced education leads to better employment opportunities and higher incomes, which will reduce dependence on public assistance and contribute to economic growth as individuals from low-income communities gain access to well-paying jobs and increased spending power. By fostering literacy and a love for learning from an early age, we are nurturing the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. The county will witness a transformation of lives, families, and neighborhoods.

The evaluation of our "You Can Read" program, includes both quantitative and qualitative measures:
1. Standardized assessments: Regularly administer standardized reading assessments to track students' progress and measure their reading proficiency levels over time.
2. Academic performance monitoring: Collaboration with schools/teachers to monitor students' overall academic performance, attendance rates, and engagement levels, which serves as indicators of the program's broader impact.
3. Longitudinal studies: Tracking our students' academic and personal trajectories over an extended period, monitoring long-term effects of our literacy interventions on their educational goals, career paths, and life outcomes.
4. Community surveys: Regular surveys and focus groups with parents, teachers, and community members to gather qualitative data on the perceived impact of our program.
5. Alumni testimonials: Collecting testimonials and success stories from program alumni, providing firsthand.