Improve Reading Skills

I WENT TO literacy school last week with teachers from Carmen V. Russo's "CEO district," a group of 10 poorly performing Baltimore schools that the system's chief executive officer hopes to turn into an "educational paradise." And to do so quickly. For historically threadbare Baltimore, the CEO district is a luxury, if doing what well-heeled suburban systems have always been able to do can be considered a luxury. The CEO schools have handpicked staffs. An extended school day adds nearly four hours of instruction a week for about 6,000 kids and allows for extra teacher training.

The federally supported Reading First program received another bad report card last week - an unsatisfactory grade in effectiveness from its principal supporter, the Department of Education. At least two other studies have found the program awash in cronyism. Even though it is hardly a universal failure - the program has enjoyed some success in Maryland and other places - Reading First needs to be overhauled or scrapped. Created in 2002 as part of the No Child Left Behind law, Reading First is supposed to use instruction methods that are scientifically based with a record of effectiveness to improve reading skills among low-income students in the earliest grades.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS line the North Avenue office of Tom Bowmann, and they're not there for decoration. "I try to read one every day," says Baltimore's first director of reading. "It's amazing how reading a child's book with adult eyes puts a different light on things. It's very helpful in my new job." Bowmann, 50, will need all the help he can get. All he has to do, as prescribed by a school system "Reading by 9" task force in a report issued in May, is get a handle on the city's many reading programs, evaluate them, eliminate the ineffective ones and beef up those that work.

Area schools and literacy programs seek volunteers to help children and adults improve reading skills and to assist with related projects. Among them: Girl Scouts of Central Maryland needs mentors to work with girls on reading and other academic subjects at the Girl Scouts Afterschool Centers at 105 N. Broadway and 31 S. Payson St. in Baltimore. Information: Wanda Young, 410-358-9711, Ext. 276. If your school or organization would like to be included in this listing, call Sundial at 410-783- 1800 and enter code 6130.

Area schools and literacy programs seek volunteers to help children and adults improve reading skills. Among them: Old Court Middle School, 4627 Old Court Road, Baltimore County, high school graduates to tutor pupils in grades six through eight in reading. Volunteers are needed every school day between 8: 30 a.m. and 2: 30 p.m. Contact: Yvonne Addison, 410-887-0788.

Area schools and literacy programs seek volunteers to help children and adults improve reading skills and to assist in related projects.Among them are:Baltimore Reading Aides, 6200 Loch Raven Blvd., which needs volunteers for one-on-one tutoring of adults learning to read or trying to improve reading skills. Hours by arrangement. A workshop for prospective tutors is scheduled for 8: 45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 25. Contact: Pat Edwards, tutor trainer and director, 410- 435-7188.Belmont Elementary School, 1406 N. Ellamont St., to work as tutors in the 1999-2000 school year for children in grades one to five, between 8: 15 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays.