California Reading Program Expands to 11 Schools After Success

Seventeen volunteers proved that one hour a week can change a child's reading life, and now Shasta County wants to share that magic with hundreds more students.

The Reading Pals program launched in 2025 as a pilot at just two schools. All 37 students who participated showed measurable progress toward reading at grade level, prompting organizers to expand to 11 schools across Redding this year.

The formula is simple. Volunteers meet with one student for an hour after school, once or twice a week on Tuesdays or Thursdays. They read together, sound out tricky words, and build confidence one page at a time.

No teaching degree required. No special training needed. Just patience, consistency, and a willingness to help a struggling reader find their voice.

The program now includes Alta Mesa, Boulder Creek, Rother, Meadow Lane, Grand Oaks, Buckeye School of the Arts, Bella Vista, Bonny View, Cypress, and Manzanita Elementary schools, plus Mountain View Middle School.

One student from last year's pilot captured the program's heart perfectly: "Sounding out hard words with my pal's help." That simple statement reveals everything. A child who once struggled alone now has someone in their corner, cheering them through every challenging sentence.

The Ripple Effect

When children learn to read confidently, everything changes. Their grades improve across every subject. Their self-esteem grows. Their future possibilities multiply.

The 17 volunteers from last year didn't just help 37 kids read better. They potentially changed the trajectory of 37 lives, opening doors to college, careers, and lifelong learning that might have stayed closed.

Now imagine that impact spreading to 11 schools. Hundreds of students could discover that reading isn't their enemy but their superpower, all because someone showed up for an hour each week.

Interested volunteers can attend an orientation on Monday, January 12 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the Shasta County Office of Education's Professional Development Center at 2985 Innsbruck Drive in Redding. They can also email hking@shastacoe.org or readingpalsredding@gmail.com, or call 530-395-1935.

The program isn't asking for much: just one hour, once a week, to sit with a child and unlock the world that reading provides.