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For the past six years the 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, Los Angelitos, in partnership with the Encinitas Union School District, has offered this ASPIRE (Allowing Students to Prosper In Recreation and Education) reading literacy program to low-income Hispanic children at Paul Ecke Elementary School (a Title I school). The program functions after school for about 40 children whose families could not afford such a program. Teen mentors from the local San Dieguito Academy's AVID program (Advancement via Individual Determination), specially trained in reading strategies, act as volunteers to read, one-to-one, to the children twice a week. (AVID supports high school students on their path to college, being the first ones in their families to do so). The literacy program takes place in the PEC reading room under the management of Los Angelitos volunteers. Many books are available in the room, however, there is a real shortage of quality Hispanic books for primary children. The funds from this application will be used to purchase Spanish books for this age group. The program supports the students' home language literacy. It develops their general literacy, vocabulary and confidence while also facilitating the acquisition of English. Silvia Pezzoli, the PEC Reading and Intervention Specialist, in cooperation with Los Angelitos volunteers, trains the teen volunteers in how to work with the Dual Language Immersion students to best develop their reading literacy.
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