Sycamore readers: A successful model to improve student learning

Operating in an average sized Midwestern city, the Sycamore Readers tutoring program has been a successful model for more than a decade. The community has high poverty levels and high-stakes test scores that fall below the state average. Struggling readers in local elementary schools are the focus of this after-school program. Services are provided free of charge by trained local college students. Results remain consistently positive: approximately two-thirds of the student participants gain in reading level, and they also gain in affective traits related to reading. In particular, this study examined the impact of the program on the comprehension skills of the students by comparing pretest and posttest scores on specific question types. Again, results were positive, especially for higher level comprehension.