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By Shane Clausing

Reading university

County of Grande Prairie ups funding for Grade Three Reading University Program

Oct 4, 2020 | 7:00 AM

The County of Grande Prairie has approved additional funding for the Grade Three Reading University program.

The program began operating 10 years ago and helps students who are making the transition from grade three to four improve their reading levels over the summer.

“We change the relationship with reading for these kids,” said Rhonda Side, the Co-founder of the Grade Three Reading University. “They are the kids who aren’t reading at grade level and aren’t comprehending at grade level and when you move from grade three to grade four, this is a critical time in their development.”

The County will commit $15,000 per year from 2021-2023 towards the program, a $5,000 per year increase from what was previously allocated to the program. The money comes from the County of Grande Prairie’s Community Assistance Grant. Since 2010, the County has provided $90,000 to the program.

Back in 2010 when the program began there were 30 kids registered in the program. Now in 2020, there are over 200 kids registered.

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The program takes place for three weeks in the summer and consists of full school days. The biggest things children gain from this is confidence and learning how to read.

“All of the schools participate and nominate kids from their Grade Three classes, and we take them, and in a 5:1 student to adult ratio, we move the needle,” said Side. “We make sure they can get to their grade level or at the very least, have the confidence and make sure they know that they are going to get there.”

Side tells EverythingGP that the program is also completely free for those who participate, as the program is funded partially by the County, as well as other fundraising events throughout the year.

Unfortunately, this year the program had to be scrapped because of COVID-19.

“The way we function there’s too much interaction. It’s very close contact so we just couldn’t run,” explained Side.

While the program wasn’t allowed to operate this year, Side says that in the past, students have really gone on to benefit from the extra reading.

“I think if you went into staff rooms in September in the region and asked grade four kids to identify not knowing which kid went to Reading U, they’d be able to point them out. There’s no regression over the course of the summer, they will have gone up a reading level, sometimes two levels over the course of the summer.”

“It’s been such a success,” said Reeve for the County of Grande Prairie, Leanne Beaupre. “The testimonials of the kids that have graduated high school that come back to talk about and talk to parents and organizers I think is a real success of the program.”

For now, the program has to play the waiting game to see if they’ll be allowed to teach the kids next summer. Side says she’s hopeful that they’ll be able to return to full capacity in 2021.