YOUNGSTOWN YACAC hails results of program to boost children's literacy

Both participating schools received $1,500 in books from Barnes & amp; Noble.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A literacy program that paired Head Start toddlers with middle-school pupils has been touted by the Youngstown Area Community Action Council as enhancing not only reading skills, but overall learning, self-esteem and parent and community involvement.
The six-month YACAC initiative, which concluded this summer, was designed to increase the literary skills of the preschoolers as well as about 50 middle-school children from Immaculate Conception School and Hillman Middle School, both in Youngstown.
YACAC received a grant to establish the Youth Literacy Project, through which youngsters in grades five to seven read to Head Start children and worked on other literacy projects with them. Goals were to benefit the Head Start children and also help the middle-school children improve reading skills and overall school performance.
Pupils met twice weekly at YACAC Head Start sites. The response to the program, from all participants, was positive, said E. Nikki Davis of YACAC, and the older pupils' reading and comprehension skills improved.
YACAC is a council that aims to promote economic, health and educational self-sufficiency for families.
Additional benefits
Davis said the literacy project helped increase awareness about the Head Start program to the community. Teachers and principals were involved, and parents were encouraging, she said.
Each middle-school pupil participating received a trophy and gift certificate for Barnes & amp; Noble bookstore.
Both schools received a plaque and $1,500 in books from Barnes & amp; Noble.
Special awards were given for summer work to Hillman Middle School pupils Sara Lee, Megan Malich, Lola Richey, Dajuan Jones, Sierra Anderson and Tolu Oshonowo. They also received gift certificates for school supplies, and their parents were given gift certificates as well.