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The Portland Reading Foundation's "WORKS" program is a reading instruction program serving at risk children in several North and Northeast Portland neighborhoods. The program, which has been serving elementary and middle school children in the Jefferson and Roosevelt clusters for six years, is a research-based tutoring program.
Children are identified who are most at-risk for failing to learn to read, and, to date, approximately 135 children have been served.
Trained tutors use a phonics-based, systematic multi-sensory approach validated by the National Institute of Child and Human Development studies. The tutors, known as Remediation Specialists, are graduates of a rigorous two-year course including practicum experience in schools in high poverty areas. Results of the intervention have been substantial, with an average gain of 1.5 years in eight months of instruction, for children involved. These gains are assessed using pre and post testing.
Originally, "WORKS" was a program of the Dyslexia Association, but in November of 2005 the Portland Reading Foundation received its own tax-exempt status. The program is extremely cost-effective, with an average gain per child of 1.5 years costing about $750. The Remediation Specialists are paid only for the hours they actually spend teaching. The time they spend on planning, staff development and meetings with school personnel is donated, demonstrating their continued commitment to these at risk students.
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