1. Idaho Reads! VISTA A partnership that began in January of 1998 with Idaho’s State Department of Education and Corporation for National Service to enhance reading and learning opportunities for at risk children age K-3 rd grade.

2. Collaborations Various programs within the State Department of Education –Title I A, Migrant Education, 21 st Century Schools, Reading First, Even Start

3. VISTA Grant Provide schools with a full time Idaho Reads! member to focus on broadening local reading resources To ensure every child is reading successfully by third grade through parent and community involvement; and To support statewide efforts to break cycles of poverty and illiteracy.

4. Request for Proposal Eligible applicants, Idaho elementary schools containing a K-3 grade span that qualify for Title I services, and/or literacy programs serving low poverty children in Kindergarten through third grade.

5. Coordination, Cooperation, Collaboration Each year literacy programs are invited to apply to host an Idaho Reads! VISTA member. Request for Proposals are released annually on February 1 st 25 Possible site placements

6. Making the “C”s Work Promoting Volunteerism –Recruit and train –Not direct service –Sustainability Community Compass –Identifying existing resources within your community

7. Making the “C”s Work (con’t) Family Literacy Events –4 per year of service Summer Reading –In conjunction with Idaho’s State Library and the local library

8. Making the “C”s Work (con’t) National Days of Service –Connecting service to academic learning –Connecting to other services within the community Make A Difference Day Civil Rights Day National Volunteer Week National Youth Volunteer Day

9. Idaho Reads ! VISTA Members Are: Not Site Employees –They are assigned to Idaho’s State Department of Education Not Teachers –Cannot provide direct service (instead, they recruit)

10. Vision Writing the Grant = 3 year vision Writing the Service Plan = 1 year of activities to begin accomplishing –Goals and objectives –Member’s activities –Will impact the challenges of the three year mission

11. Time Line January Regional Grant Writing Workshops Request for Proposals released - February 1st, 2008 Application Closing dates - March 1st, 2008 Notification of Awards - Approximately April 1st, 2008 Idaho Reads! VISTA member recruited - May 1st, 2008 Idaho Reads! VISTA member name submitted to SDE for approval - May 15th, 2008