About Us
America Reads, a national literacy campaign started in 1996, challenges every American to help children learn to read well and independently. America Counts was initiated in 1999 to improve young students' achievements in mathematics.
UMass Dartmouth's America Reads & Counts program was started in 1998, and is currently operated by the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement. We currently place approximately 160-200 undergraduate students in 16 locations in New Bedford and Fall River as tutors. These students provide countless hours per week of academic assistance to students in pre-K through eighth grade - at no cost to the participating schools and community centers.
Our Goals
Our America Reads*Counts program strives to:
Increase the level of understanding in mathematics of local students from pre-K through 8th grade;
Increase the reading levels of local children from pre-K through 5th grade;
Foster a desire for secondary and higher education in local children;
Increase university students' involvement in the community; and
Strengthen the partnership between the University and the local community.
Our Staff
Deirdre Healy
Program Director
Medora LaPlante
Program Coordinator