As a supporter of the Department of Education's "Reading First" initiative, the Kingman Route 66 Rotary Club is committed to improving the reading skills of our local elementary school children.  Kingman Route 66 Rotary Club has sponsored a reading tutor program for several years.

Volunteers commit to tutoring 3rd graders for one hour per week.  Volunteers are recruited inside and outside the Rotary community.  Each member of the Kingman Route 66 Rotary Club is asked to provide at least one volunteer.

Volunteers are required to donate ½ hour per week at the student's school at the volunteer's convenience to spend with the student as his individual tutor.  Studies have shown that a child's reading skills improve dramatically when tutored in this way.

Education professionals who cooperate in our program have told us that the time spent with the student by the volunteer often is the only help the student receives outside the classroom.  Parents are either disinterested or nearly illiterate themselves.  These children have little confidence in their ability as students, so, besides improving the child's reading skills participation in the program also enhances the child's self-esteem as students.