I Read I Count seeks volunteers for fall literacy and math tutoring; application deadline Sept. 4

Cheryl Behringer, coordinator of I Read I Count, asked Community Coalition members to recruit volunteers for the program that places one adult with kindergarten and first‑grade students for one hour weekly. Behringer said volunteers work in the same classroom at the same time each week, see 4–6 students in an hour, receive training before working with children and do not need educational experience. She described the program as an early‑literacy and math intervention that improved participating kindergarten reading scores in the Urbana School District by more than 10% in one example. Key dates and details: the fall I Count session runs Sept. 29–Dec. 3 (no sessions during the districts’ fall break week nor the week of Thanksgiving); the application deadline for the fall session is Sept. 4. The spring I Read program is scheduled for March 3–March 8; applications for spring will be accepted through Jan. 30. Why it matters: Behringer framed the program as both an education intervention and a community anti‑poverty and anti‑violence strategy, noting that volunteers can be retirees, college students, professionals or anyone who can commit one hour per week. How to sign up: applications and program details are available at www.champaigncounty.org/iread-icount and flyers are on the meeting’s back table.