Causes: Education, Primary & Elementary Schools

Mission: The Career Guidance Institute chief program is ABQ Reads. ABQ Reads partners with Albuquerque Public Schools in providing programs that directly serve the most vulnerable student populations to assist in accelerating literacy achievement. CGI's fundamental belief is that every child can learn, and a sound educational system is the foundation of a community's economic vitality. Reading is a vital skill and fundamental to functioning in today's society.

Results: Since the program started, several thousand students have benefited from the program. On average, over 80% of the students complete the program and most all demonstrate accelerated reading growth moving them out of the category of significantly behind to the categories of either on-grade level or almost grade level proficient by the end of the school year. ABQ Reads is evaluated for effectiveness by an independent analyst from APS on a yearly basis.

Target demographics: high poverty Kindergarten and 1st graders at three elementary schools learn to read

Direct beneficiaries per year: 160 Title I Kindergarten and 1st graders

Geographic areas served: Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, NM

Programs: Albuquerque Reads in partnership with ABQ Public Schools, employs over 300 tutor volunteers in three Title I elementary schools. Kinder and 1st grade students receive 60 minutes of one-to-one in literacy instruction weekly. Tutors are trained and coached by certified teachers and employing scripted lesson plans developed weekly by certified teachers and in alignment with classroom instruction.