Children's Literacy Project

The Children's Literacy Project (CLP) is a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the literacy skills of children from low-income households. It operates primarily by training and supporting volunteer tutors who provide free, long-term, one-to-one instruction using research-based methodology. This approach focuses on phonics and emphasizes the relationship between sounds and letters, helping children who are not reading at grade level[2][3].

Mission and Goals

CLP's mission is to create a community where all children can read, write, and spell effectively, which are essential skills for future academic success. By improving literacy rates, CLP aims to improve a wide range of health and social outcomes among vulnerable populations[3][4].

Operations

• Program Structure: Tutors receive intensive training that includes pre-course work, classroom instruction, and a practicum. Each tutor is assigned to one child and meets with them twice a week for 30 to 40 minutes throughout the school year[2][3].

• Community Impact: The organization not only enhances literacy skills but also helps build self-confidence in children, often leading to improved performance in other classes and increased willingness to read aloud in front of peers[2].

• Demographics: CLP predominantly serves elementary school-aged children, with a diverse demography including 45% Black, 40% Latinx, 10% white, 3% two or more races, and 2% Asian. All students come from families living below federal poverty guidelines[3].

Partnerships and Advocacy

CLP works alongside community organizations and faith groups to mobilize volunteers into public schools. They also advocate for literacy awareness nationally and provide books to under-resourced contexts to promote literacy ownership[1].

Financial Overview

As a 501(c)(3) organization, donations to CLP are tax-deductible. Its revenue is primarily from contributions, with a small portion from program services[5].

Leadership and Governance

CLP is led by a team of experienced professionals in education, film, and philanthropy. Key figures include its president and board members with backgrounds in film production, education, and social service[1][5].

Impact

The organization's efforts have been successful in addressing literacy gaps, particularly exacerbated by events like the COVID-19 pandemic. CLP developed a pre-reading curriculum to help children who missed early education due to the pandemic, demonstrating significant progress in literacy skills among its participants[2].

[1] https://www.childrensliteracyproject.org/about [2] https://mdbf.org/k-12-education/childrens-literacy-project/ [3] https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit/e6bddc7c55584e389e6471b9e5fdf519-childrens-literacy-project-durham [4] https://www.readwritego.org [5] https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/464119141