The America Reads Initiative
During his 1997 State of the Union Address, President Clinton issued the “America Reads Challenge,” asking every American to identify what role he or she can play to help all of our children to read independently and well by the end of third grade. With research findings at the time indicating that 40% of America’s fourth graders were failing to attain the basic level of reading, President Clinton’s Call to Action for American Education vowed to commit the Nation’s resources to The America Reads Initiative, which included various strategies to engage parents, educators, and the broader public in addressing “the Challenge.”
In 1999, the America Reads Challenge was expanded nationally to include America Counts. This expanded the initiative to include supporting children through eighth grade in their development of early mathematics foundations. More recently, information on America Reads/America Counts Programs nationwide relate to both literacy and early STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) development for children through elementary and middle school respectively.
The America Reads Federal Work Study Funding
One of the many components of the America Reads Initiative included an increase in Federal Work Study funding for colleges and universities throughout the nation for work study positions specifically identified as supporting the development of literacy skills in preschool through elementary school and eventually mathematics skills through eighth grade. Federal regulations were also amended as part of the America Reads Initiative enabling “America Reads Federal Work Study Positions” to be fully supported by Federal Work Study funds, with all matching funds waived – a unique circumstance for Federal Work Study positions. This is a key component to the America Reads Work Study Positions with relation to its funding, financial management, and fiscal reporting.
Penn State Welcomes America Reads
The Pennsylvania State University has participated in the America Reads Initiative from its inception. As one of the “honor roll” institutions committed to the cause, the Penn State community embraced the initiative. With the support of the Penn State administration, The College of Education and The Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy assumed the administrative responsibilities of the America Reads Program, with the Office of Student Aid responsible for the Federal Work Study allocations and awarding, financial management, and fiscal reporting.
Introducing Nittany Lions Read/Nittany Lions Count
Twenty years following its introduction, The America Reads Program has evolved into The Nittany Lions Read/Nittany Lions Count Program. Nittany Lions Reads/Nittany Lions Count continues to offer Penn State students the opportunity to support the children in the communities surrounding the University while earning Federal Work Study funding to support their own education. Nittany Lions Read/Nittany Lions Count Mentors work to support the children’s development of the core competencies related to early literacy, mathematics, and science skills. Beginning Spring 2019, the program administration moved to the Office of Student Aid. Annually, Nittany Lions Read/Nittany Lions Count aims to coordinate nearly 150 Penn State students as they engage is this community service/service learning opportunity.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s Call to Action
In May 2023, the U.S. Department of Education called on colleges, universities, and school districts to work together to use Federal Work Study (FWS) or other resources to increase the number of college students supporting school-aged children and youth in our nation’s K-12 schools and out-of-school time programs. “Our colleges and universities have always been a driving force in solving America’s greatest challenges; and, today, we’re calling on these critical institutions to stand up once again by using Federal Work Study and other dollars to help accelerate learning and recovery in our K-12 schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Already established at Penn State, the Nittany Lions Reads/Nittany Lions Count Program is committed to supporting this effort and meeting the ongoing needs of the children in our communities.