Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
Community Partnerships on Literacy
Literacy: Our North Star
SCCPSS partners with a variety of community organizations to promote literacy initiatives throughout Savannah and Chatham County.
Tutoring and Mentorship
Within the universal system of literacy, our school district partners with community organizations and volunteers that possess skill sets and/or resources to support student literacy in ways that will demonstrably contribute to student success.
If you are an individual or a part of an organization – a fraternity/sorority, religious group, leadership network, community service group – interested in tutoring or reading with students, please reach out to one of the following organizations. The Read United Buddies and L.O.V.E. Mentors receive training and support to work with students in a manner aligned with the district’s approach. All volunteers must submit an application for a background check by visiting our VISTA page
Read United
Read United Buddies UWCE
Partner Schools: AB Williams, Brock, Windsor Forest Elementary
Days & Times: 30 minutes, twice a week. Options M-Th, 9:30 to 3:15
Grade Levels: 2nd & 3rd
Program Description: Read United Buddies is an evidence-based, volunteer-driven structured tutoring literacy program. Second and third-grade students receive one-on-one reading tutoring to support reading proficiency and social engagement by dedicated and nurturing community volunteers.
Program Goal: To help students become proficient readers by the end of the third-grade
L.O.V.E. Mentors
L.O.V.E. Mentors
Partner Schools: Windsor Forest Elementary, Pulaski, Gadsden, Haven, AB Williams, Isle of Hope, Hodge, Juliette Low
Days & Times: 45 min – 1 hour, once a week (Dependent on school schedules)
Grade Levels: K-5, with an emphasis on reading skills for K-3
Program Description: LOVE Mentors' focus is to help elementary school children learn, with an emphasis on improving reading skills. Mentors work with one child at a time and each mentor may work with more than one child, in sequence. “Mentoring” is the focus, to motivate and inspire students and instill a love of learning and reading. Some mentors prefer working to improve math skills. This concentration can change, based on teacher recommendations, student needs, and mentor preference.
Program Goal: To make a positive impact on the lives of Title 1 elementary school children by helping them learn, emphasizing the importance of education and especially reading, and achieving grade-level academic performance.
University Partnerships
Literacy experts from the Georgia Southern University College of Education provide evidence-backed training to Read United Buddies and L.O.V.E. Mentors to ensure an alignment with the Science of reading.
Live Oak Public Library
Did you know that your PK-12th grade child’s student ID number (located on his/her report card or lunch card) gives free access to public library resources both at the library and online? Check out the Live Oak Public Library Student PLAY program
Benefits both inside and outside the classroom include:
- Borrowing books with no overdue fines
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Use of computers
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Connections to free tutoring, homework help, literacy tools, college prep and job readiness resources.
Language as a Missing Link
Savannah's Early Language and Literacy Coalition, of which SCCPSS is part, brings together multiple community partners working to support the construction of the Reading Brain from the last trimester of pregnancy through elementary school. The coalition has earned a Language as a Missing Link (LML grant from the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy. The purpose of the grant is to improve the early language and literacy skills of Georgia children by supporting community coalitions that aim to bolster early brain development and language nutrition among children. In Savannah, the grant is working to provide LML training to early childhood educators and socialize the LML toolkit among families so that they too can better support the literacy of their children.