CHARLOTTE, N.C. – According to school officials, only 40 percent of third graders are reading on their grade level. One oranization is hoping to obtain 400 more volunteer tutors to help students who are struggling. 

Reading Partners volunteers work with students who are anywhere from one month to 2.5 years behind reading at their current grade level. To help in even the most severe cases, tutors get training and an easy-to-follow curriculum.

"You can work it into your schedule," says tutor Gia Paige. "Reading Rartners is going to prepare you to jump into this role."

Paige started as a volunteer and says she noticed changes in her first student. "I saw him become much more confident." 

She says the experience was equally rewarding for her. So much so, she now works full-time for Reading Partners as a site coordinator.

"I thought that that was a great opportunity to make a connection in the community," she says. 

It’s a pivotal connection that can be the determining factor in a student's path.

"Our goal is to really maximize student success and have them become lifelong readers," she says.

Prospective tutors must first pass a background check and some schools also require documentation of a TB shot.

For information on how you can volunteer, visit: https://readingpartners.org/volunteer/​