National and Local Education Groups Band Together to Boost Reading
Scores of Students of Color
Indianapolis, IN (May 19, 2009) - Reverend Henry L. Peterson of Womack Memorial
CME Church answered the call of the National Council on Educating Black Children
(NCEBC), a national non‐profit organization headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, to
boost reading levels of youth by establishing the community's first Augustus F.
Hawkins Literacy Center.
NCEBC's goal in launching the literacy centers, appropriately named after
organization's founder, the late Congressman Augustus F. Hawkins, is to improve
overall literacy levels for students at risk of academic failure, specifically for
students of color.
"We believe from the bottom of our souls that all children can learn. Our goal is to
help every student in our community - no matter of their situation or ability - be
successful and to reach their highest potential," said Reverend Peterson. "By
strengthening our community from the ground‐up through our future - today's
students - we will create a community with safer streets, stronger schools and
thriving businesses."
A core element of the Hawkins Literacy Center will be an intensive reading program
provided by Achieve3000®, an award‐winning online reading program that delivers individualized and culturally relevant reading material for students. Students
attending the after‐school and summer programs at the local Hawkins Literacy
Center will be given access to Acheive3000 programs that are customized to meet
the student at their own reading level. Because the content is online and easily
accessible, students can work on reading from anywhere and at
any time of the day. Parents can help their children become readers by using the
online program at home, from the library or at the centers. If desired, parents can
also use the Achieve3000 program to work on their own literacy skills.
"To make this vision a reality, it takes local leaders like Reverend Peterson to show
dedication and initiative," said Diana Daniels, Executive Director of NCEBC. "We
must do our best to turn‐back the hands of time and give the gift of literacy to our
students before its too late."
The Hawkins Literacy Centers will become a hub for fun, creative and safe afterschool
and summer programs where students will work on improving reading skills
and work with church and community leaders on community‐service projects.
NCEBC plans on opening at least 25 centers around the country before the end of
the year. The Indianapolis center is the 8th one to launch.
The Augustus F. Hawkins Literacy Centers will help NCECB meet a key milestone as
outlined in their National Blueprint for Action, a national research‐based framework
for building effective educational and mentoring programs. Additional information
and copies of the NCEBC Blueprint can be found online at
http://www.ncebc.org/blueprint.html.
About Achieve3000
Achieve3000, founded in New Jersey in 2000, is the leader in online differentiated instruction. Its products deliver online differentiated literacy solutions proven to increase reading comprehension, vocabulary and writing proficiency for students in grades 2 through 12 and also for adult learners. Through its proprietary software engine, the company provides tailored assignments to each student in the class based on his or her reading level. The company's products are delivered in a nonfiction, current event format and are based on decades of scientific research. They include KidBiz3000™ (a reading and writing program for grades 2 through 5), TeenBiz3000® (a reading and writing program for grades 6 through 12) and Spark3000® (a reading and writing program for adult learners). Achieve3000 is located in Lakewood, N.J. For more information, visit http://www.achieve3000.com or call 800-838-8771.
About NCEBC
Founded in 1986 by the late and former California Congressman Augustus F.
Hawkins, NCEBC is a national organization committed to making a critical
difference, through its state/regional structure, in the lives of African‐American
students. NCEBC believes in a stakeholder model for addressing the educational ills
facing the African‐American community, for "it takes a village to raise a child." The
NCEBC stakeholder village includes: students, parents, teachers, administrators,
support service providers, paraprofessionals, policy makers, higher education
institutions, business leaders, civil organizations and members of religious
communities. The NCEBC board consists of senior education administrators, policy
makers and researchers, including such renowned educators as Dr. Deborah Jewell
Sherman, MA, and Dr. Linda Darling Hammond, CA, among others.
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