Become a Reading Mentor
Help a student learn to read during your lunch hour
Lead to Read KC is recruiting volunteers to read once a week for 30 minutes with students in high-need elementary schools. It’s the easiest, most meaningful volunteer experience in the city. No evenings or weekends!
Why It's Necessary
Third grade is when students make the switch from learning to read to reading to learn. This crucial time often determines future academic success, but only 21% of third-grade students in Kansas City public and charter schools is reading proficiently.
Lead to Read KC’s Reading Mentoring program has been proven to significantly improve participating students’ reading scores and sight word accuracy compared to control students. Learn more about our impact.
Source: SchoolSmartKC
%
KC public & charter school third-graders reading proficiently
Volunteer Options
Weekly
Read with the same student each week of the school year, September to May. If you need to miss a week, we can arrange for a Flextra to fill in for you.
Shared
Team up with a friend, coworker or family member to share the same student for the school year. One of you attends each Reading Session.
Flextra
Come at least once a month and as often as you are able. Read with a different student each time as you fill in for weekly mentors who are absent.
Don’t see a good fit? There are tons of other ways to get involved and support our mission.
Ongoing Support
You don’t need to be a teacher or tutor to apply! We provide:
- Online orientation
- Mentoring tips and reading strategies
- Site Coordinator at every session
- Ongoing training and support
We’ve found that properly supporting our volunteer base is the most effective way to serve the students.
Don’t take our word for it. Hear what our program is like from some of our past and current Reading Mentors:
Get Started
APPLY
Ready to help a child discover the magic of reading?
SCHOOLS
Determine which partner location is most convenient.
SCHEDULE
Find a time that suits your schedule and commitments.
FAQs
Have a question? Read our Frequently Asked Questions.
Get Involved
We need you! There are so many ways to be part of the solution to our community’s literacy crisis. Choose to give your time or resources to Lead to Read KC.