Project PASS gives second-graders help with reading

YOUNGSTOWN — It’s a typical Monday afternoon at Harding Elementary School – except in the cafetorium.

The room is normally empty, but today there are pairs of students sporadically seated at the tables.

In a far corner, Joe Mahoney listens while second-grader Diamonique Washington reads from the book “Rebel Soup.”

“This is like the best book I’ve ever read – of all my books at home,” said Diamonique.

To her, Mahoney is more than a student at Youngstown State University and more than a reading tutor.

“He’s my friend,” said Diamonique.

The two are participating in Project PASS, a program that pairs YSU students and second-graders in Youngstown City Schools. The goal is to increase the number of students who pass the state-mandated Third Grade Reading Guarantee testing.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com