This article was featured in the August 2022 edition of The Baptist Courier. 

57% of South Carolina students are behind grade level in English Language Arts. Nearly 30% are two grade levels behind.

Why is this important? Statistics tell us that if a child does not read at grade level by 3rd grade, they are four times more likely to drop out of school as compared to those who read on grade level. If that child is in poverty, they are eight times more likely to drop out of school.

It doesn’t take much imagination to think about what our communities will look like across South Carolina if this trend continues. We could, I suppose, wait 10 or 15 years and deal with issues this trend will create in our communities down the line.

Or…we could begin to reverse this trend and see our children and our communities begin to thrive. We could build meaningful partnerships with our local schools and help support the teachers who are already working diligently in this arena.

How? What difference can I make? Experience and reporting tell us that when a child can read with an adult for 30 minutes a week, they are likely to raise their reading scores in just one school year. Amazing, isn’t it? It doesn’t take new initiatives and millions of dollars, just a committed volunteer who will read with a child for 30 minutes each week!

Now that school shutdowns due to Covid are behind us, the Church has an opportunity to respond in record fashion to support schools and teachers and help change the trajectory of a child’s life.

Would you be willing to serve your local school by becoming a Reading Buddy, providing Teacher Support or through Backpack Buddies (weekend food for students)? For more info, to attend our September training, or to find out how you can join this movement of partnership, contact Angela McNeal at www.scbaptist.org/heart4schools.

-Jon Jamison, Serve Team Leader