MichiganRadio

Detroit Public Schools Reading Corps Reaches Volunteer Milestone DETROIT, MI (Associated Press) - Detroit Public Schools officials say they're thrilled more than 3000 people have signed up for its Reading Corps program.

But the district still wants more people to volunteer.

DPS announced the Reading Corps program last month, after Detroit students posted the worst scores in the history of the National Assessment of Educational Progress math test. The program aims to have all DPS third graders reading at grade level by 2015.

District officials say they're pleased with the outpouring of support for the program, which is set to launch in pre-kindergarten classrooms next month. But DPS spokesman Steve Wasko says even more volunteers are needed.

"If we at some point get more volunteers than we can even use--which is not the case at this point in time--at the pre-kindergarten level, we'll quickly expand the program to kindergarten and other grade levels as well," Wasko says.

Wasko notes the number of volunteers signed up so far is the equivalent of adding nearly 200 full-time staff members in DPS schools.
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