Motivational and Incentivized
 Reading Programs
On October 12, 2016, The Ways & Means Community Foundation announced the kick-off of reading programs that were adopted and started by the Foundation with the intent of helping kids increase their reading levels by as much as 35 percent. It was our hope then, and even more-so now, that these programs would help develop a child’s life-long affinity for reading and strong reading skills that will help guarantee a child's success in life; not only just in the developmental stage, but throughout the various stages for the rest of their life. Reading is the most critical element in a child's educational future and with your help, the following reading programs will be offered by the Foundation in 2018/19.
Enhanced Reading Programs 
Edmentum Reading Eggs - This program is included in the overall program and allows the Foundation the flexibility to enroll students regardless of their reading or comprehension level. The program is designed to be fun, entertaining and interactive. It is an online program that allows students to progress at their own level. The program incorporates various learning stages; students move into more complex learning modules as they progress. Students are tested at the start to get a program designed to meet their individual needs. 
To help encourage and motivate students to read more, the Foundation incorporated an incentive component to the program with the hope that the incentive component will help enrollees develop a sense of individual responsibility and commitment to read more. The student's progress and choices are the only factors determining what reward is earned. As specific milestones (levels) are reached, the student will have the opportunity to earn a reward at that level, or the choice to bank that opportunity and build on it to qualify for a larger reward at a later date. 
Institute of Reading Development – In year 2020, the State of Michigan will require that all children attempting to go from 3rd grade to 4th grade be given a reading test. If the test is not passed, the child taking the test will not be allowed to go to the 4th grade and will have to repeat 3rd grade.
To help assure that the test is passed, grants will be given by the Foundation to 3rd graders from low-to-moderate income families, to allow them to participate in a reading program offered by the Institute of Reading Development. The program will include five weeks of classroom instruction by an experienced teacher, and independent reading in some of the best books written for 3rd graders. Between weekly lessons children participating in the program will continue to build skills through interactive online instruction that is tailored to the child’s reading level.

For more information, please visit the; waysandmeansfoundation.com,
or www.readingprograms.org.
A sponsorship/donation form is attached.