For Release March 22, 2006
Action Learning Systems Brings Literacy Program to Washington, D. C.

The Literacy Loop Engages Students in Reading
The D. C. Children and Youth Investment Trust is collaborating with Action Learning Systems (ALS) to launch the Literacy Loop program in Washington, D. C. The Literacy Loop is an academic, cross-age tutoring and mentoring program structured around reciprocal teaching objectives for tutors and students. The program began in Los Angeles in 1998 and has since expanded to Stockton, CA.

The D. C. Loop Tutoring Model
In the D. C. Loop model, high school students will be extensively trained to tutor student teams of third and sixth graders. The program’s goal is to increase students’ comprehension skills through direct text engagement. Together, tutors and students will read short, engaging fiction and non-fiction texts aligned with school district standards. This technique heightens content understanding by giving team members specific roles when analyzing what they have read. Through the roles of summarizer, questioner/evidence finder, vocabulary clarifier, and predictor (predicting what will happen based on evidence in the text), students will learn to approach reading and writing in a fun, team-oriented, and systematic way. This method has proven to dramatically increase self-confidence, literacy skills, and analytical ability in both students and tutors.
     The Trust Corporation is piloting the D. C. Loop program in the spring. Coordinators from community-based organizations, as well as teachers, will support students participating in the program. Several community-based programs, the D. C. Public Schools, and Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation are partners in this effort. The Trust Corporation, ALS, and community partners all look forward to replicating the D. C. Loop literacy program with more students next year.

About Action Learning Systems
Founded in 1995, Action Learning Systems (ALS) helps schools and districts increase student achievement by offering standards-based instruction and materials, research-based strategies, training and coaching, and intervention programs.

For more information about the Literacy Loop:
Kelly Smith, 916-447-0762, ksmith@actionlearningsystems.com