P.O. Box 30035Charlotte, NC 28230www.cms.k12.nc.us

Working together, we can help each student become a stronger, more confident reader.

In compliance with federal law, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools administers all education programs, employment activities andadmissions without discrimination against any person on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age or disability.

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North Star Reading Partners A CMS Literacy Initiative

At Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, we are focused on literacy. We want every student to be able to read, to comprehend, to write and to learn. Literacy is the cornerstone of academic success, our North Star. Each student has individual needs that we want to meet so every student learns. With more than 145,000 students, we need your help. That’s why we have created the North Star Reading Partners Initiative to bring community volunteers into our schools. Our partners will help mentor and move our students to success in school. I hope you’ll consider becoming a reading partner for a student. One student, one hour, once a week is all it takes.

~ Ann Clark, superintendent

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has made a district-wide commitment to literacy for every student. As part of that commitment, we are asking our community to help us reach and teach every one of our more than 145,000 students during this school year.

The North Star Reading Partners Initiative will bring community and business volunteers into schools to work with individual students on a one-to-one basis. We are asking the community at large, local and regional businesses and other organizations to join us in nurturing literacy.

Working together, we can help each student become a stronger, more confident reader. We are asking you to become mentors and reading buddies – to make a commitment to one child for one hour once a week. Your time and your care can make a tremendous difference to one student, so please become a North Star Reading Partner.

All reading partners must be registered as CMS volunteers. If you’re interested in becoming a reading partner, please go to www.cms.k12.nc.us and click on the North Star Reading Partners tab in the Spotlight section located in the lower left section of the homepage.

What is the North Star Reading Partners Initiative?The North Star Reading Partners Initiative is designed to bring community and business volunteers into schools to work with individual students on a one-to-one basis so that every student acquires the skills needed for literacy. It is part of our CMS Literacy Initiative, a multidimensional and targeted initiative designed to get every third-grader reading on grade level by the end of the year. The program provides continued support for rising fourth-graders involved in the program last year. It also focuses on getting seventh-graders ready for eighth grade, providing targeted support for middle school students and supporting high school seniors at risk of not graduating on time.

Why is CMS asking the community to participate?Each student has individual needs. Our experience, as well as research data, shows that individual attention and mentoring can make a critical difference in how much students learn. Strong, effective public education benefits everyone in our community, so we are asking members of the community to help us provide the best education to every student.

Why is literacy so important?To achieve academic success, every student must be able to read, to comprehend, to write and to learn. Literacy is the cornerstone of academic success. Research shows that a child who is reading on grade level or higher by the end of third grade has a far better chance of graduating than one who is not reading on grade level. Reading, writing, speaking and understanding are the foundation for academic achievement from pre-kindergarten through graduation and beyond.

I’ve never been a teacher; can I really help a student learn to read?Yes. We are providing instructional guidelines and support for each mentor, so that students receive the maximum benefit from the experience.

How much time is required to participate in the program?We are asking that each volunteer spend one hour with one student once a week.

How do I sign up?If you’re interested in becoming a reading partner, please go to www.cms.k12.nc.us and click on the North Star Reading Partners tab in the Spotlight section located in the lower left section of the homepage.

Will CMS conduct background checks for reading partners?Yes. To ensure that our students have a safe environment at school, we conduct background checks on all volunteers before they begin work at a school.

North Star Reading Partners Frequently Asked Questions

In compliance with federal law, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools administers all education programs, employment activities andadmissions without discrimination against any person on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age or disability.

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