To help children succeed in the classroom, ServeMinnesota got an extra boost from The United Way of Mower County in the form of a $6,500 grant.

This was the first time that ServeMinnesota applied for a grant through The United Way of Mower County, according to Diane Baker, executive director. The $6,500 grant would cover at least six additional reading tutors to be placed for this upcoming school year, who are members of Minnesota Reading Corps, and will assist in working one-on-one with students every day and provide support and mentorship to K-3 students.

“It just made sense,” Baker said regarding the funding. “Their programming is measurable and proven to be successful.”

Minnesota Reading Corps are placed in early learning centers and elementary schools statewide, and serve as literacy tutors for children age 3 to grade 3. Tutors work with students one-on-one and in small groups every day, providing literacy interventions tailored to specific needs of students, according to the organization’s website.

Since 2003, the program expanded to help more than 200,000 children get on track to succeed in reading.

ServeMinnesota works with AmeriCorps members and community partners to meet critical needs throughout the state, focusing on solving problems in educational achievement, economic opportunity and environmental protection.

The organization also provides solutions to help struggling students get on track to read proficiently by third grade through partnerships with local schools.

Last year, 264 students in K-3 participated in Reading Corps at eight different Mower County school districts, including Austin Public Schools. According to ServeMinnesota, about 75 percent of K-3 students served will demonstrate more than an expected year’s worth of growth in their literacy skills to catch up to their grade level targets.