The Baltimore Reads program celebrates 20 years of bringing literacy classes to adults in Baltimore
Maureen O'Donoghue
Issue date: 1/26/10 Section: News
The Baltimore Reads program recently celebrated twenty years of success as an extremely admirable foundation that offers literacy classes to adults throughout Baltimore who are looking to obtain the basic reading, writing, mathematics and employment skills necessary to further their lives.
Staggering Baltimore statistics demonstrate the call for foundations such as the Baltimore Reads program. In Baltimore City, 31% of residents lack a high school diploma and in some neighborhoods the school drop-out rate is 50%. The Baltimore Reads GED program offers these adults a course that prepares them with the skill necessary to pass the GED exam and obtain a high school diploma.
The Adult Basic Education (ABE) program is designed to teach basic literacy skills, such as reading and mathematics, while the Kurt Schmoke Reading program works to further improve the proficiency of one's reading skills. Similarly, English as a Second Language classes are available and embraced by the diverse Baltimore community.
The different educational programs of Baltimore Reads help, on average, 300 adults each year. This number though, is rapidly growing as a result of their decision to offer classes and tutoring in different locations throughout Baltimore. The implementation of off sight classes and tutoring ensures that the programs are accessible to different communities. Baltimore Reads is quickly finding just how interested the people of Baltimore actually are about their programs.
"As we get out into these various different branches we are finding out that the communities in which the branches are located in are very receptive, and we actually have a waiting list for people who come in and want to take classes," said Mark Feiring, director of the Baltimore Reads Book Bank.
The newest off sight location was opened recently in Canton, where the large Hispanic population embraced the new ESL program offered by Baltimore Reads.
In addition to the adult education programs, the foundation has a local Book Bank that was started in 1992 and has distributed close to 1.3 million free books throughout Baltimore.
Staggering Baltimore statistics demonstrate the call for foundations such as the Baltimore Reads program. In Baltimore City, 31% of residents lack a high school diploma and in some neighborhoods the school drop-out rate is 50%. The Baltimore Reads GED program offers these adults a course that prepares them with the skill necessary to pass the GED exam and obtain a high school diploma.
The Adult Basic Education (ABE) program is designed to teach basic literacy skills, such as reading and mathematics, while the Kurt Schmoke Reading program works to further improve the proficiency of one's reading skills. Similarly, English as a Second Language classes are available and embraced by the diverse Baltimore community.
The different educational programs of Baltimore Reads help, on average, 300 adults each year. This number though, is rapidly growing as a result of their decision to offer classes and tutoring in different locations throughout Baltimore. The implementation of off sight classes and tutoring ensures that the programs are accessible to different communities. Baltimore Reads is quickly finding just how interested the people of Baltimore actually are about their programs.
"As we get out into these various different branches we are finding out that the communities in which the branches are located in are very receptive, and we actually have a waiting list for people who come in and want to take classes," said Mark Feiring, director of the Baltimore Reads Book Bank.
The newest off sight location was opened recently in Canton, where the large Hispanic population embraced the new ESL program offered by Baltimore Reads.
In addition to the adult education programs, the foundation has a local Book Bank that was started in 1992 and has distributed close to 1.3 million free books throughout Baltimore.
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posted 3/27/10 @ 7:22 AM EST
wow, this brings back some great memories! it seems like just yesterday i was watching all of these great shows, and more great shows. this homecoming theme has been so much fun!
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posted 4/22/10 @ 7:46 PM EST
What necessary words... super, a magnificent idea
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