The document provides an agenda for a literacy advocacy meeting in San Antonio. The agenda includes: 1. Welcome and introductions from Literacy San Antonio 2. A presentation on after-school programs from Excel Beyond the Bell SA 3. A presentation on the "Let's Read!" program from San Antonio Youth Literacy 4. Information on an upcoming Literacy Fiesta 5. A discussion on community alignment and a call to action The document also provides details on the presentations, including information on specific programs, statistics, volunteer opportunities, and goals to improve youth literacy in San Antonio.

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2. Agenda
• 9:30 - Welcome from Literacy San Antonio/Advocacy
Call - Pamela Toman
• 9:45 - Excel Beyond the Bell SA - Cynthia LeMonds
• 10:10 - SA Reads ―Let’s Read!‖ - Mary Flannigan
• 10:45 - SA Reads Literacy Fiesta - Celina Montoya
• 11:00 - Community Alignment/Call to Action
- Celina Montoya
• 11:15 - Open Agenda – Pamela Toman

3. Advocacy Call: State Budget Cuts
• A bit of perspective from our friends at Center for Public Policy Priorities:
• The state's general revenue budget for the current 2010-11 biennium totals
$90 billion (roughly $82 billion in state general revenue and $8 billion in
federal recovery dollars).
• To provide the same public services in 2012-13, because of more people
and higher costs, the Legislature would have to spend at least $99 billion in
general revenue.
• The House's budget would spend just under $78 billion, leaving the state
short $21 billion.
• The Senate's budget would spend about $83 billion, leaving the state short
$16 billion—$5 billion of which would have gone to public education. It
originally had $3 billion from Rainy Day Fund in it, but that got stripped away
before it was passed along strict party lines and sent to the House.
• Differences between the two budgets will go before a conference committee
made up of members from both chambers where compromises likely will be
made.
Courtesy of Cam Messina, Voices for
Children, SA

4. Advocacy Call
● Call Lieutenant Governor David
Dewhurst at 1-888-474-2166
The message is simple and to the point…please
tell them…
Use the RAINY DAY FUND to Save Our
State! We must prepare Texas children for
the future with quality education, healthcare,
and the safety most of us take for granted—
but isn't true for all. Texas can do better!

5. Excel Beyond the Bell SA
Cynthia Le Monds
SA Youth

6. Why We Exist
• Have you ever wondered what happens to children
after the bell rings?
• Unfortunately, in Texas 26% of our children are on the
streets, left unsupervised, or home alone after the bell
rings.
• High quality, safe and enriching out-of-school time
programs can contribute to the educational outcomes,
quality of life, and positive youth development of children
and youth everywhere. All San Antonio children should
be supervised and engaged in constructive learning
activities after the bell rings. Our children deserve to
have access to programs that are safe, fun and
stimulating.

7. Who We Are
• Excel Beyond the Bell SA is a collaborative
network of out-of-school time providers and
other interested stakeholders to ensure that all
children in San Antonio have access to
affordable, quality educational and youth
enrichment programs during the critical out-of-
school time.

8. What We Do
• The network advances the quality, availability
and affordability of afterschool, weekend and
summer programs in San Antonio while
providing professional development, in-kind
resources, networking opportunities and quality
standards for out-of-school time programs.

9. How You Can Get Involved
• Becoming a member of Excel Beyond the Bell –
San Antonio will afford many opportunities for
providers and supporters to make a difference in
the out-of-school time.

10. Benefits of Membership
• Early access to Network training events
• Get monthly grant alerts
• Share best practices through monthly network meetings
• Discounts and early access to training events and
classes
• Get access to member only events such as Lights on
Afterschool
• All staff have access to monthly network meetings
• Receive in-kind gifts, volunteer resources and
partnership opportunities
• Resource pooling
• Access to leaders on policy issues

11. Excel Beyond The Bell SA Meetings
JUNE MEETING DATE: June 1, 2011
TIME: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
LOCATION: Children's Museum, 305 E. Houston, 78205 (Park in Houston St.
Garage and take parking stub to meeting to be validated. The first hour is free
with a validated stub. After that it is $3 per hour payable by cash or check
only.)
Best Practice Session Provided by: Children's Museum
JULY MEETING DATE: July 6, 2011
TIME: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
LOCATION: Girls, Inc., 1209 S. St. Mary's St
Best Practice Session Provided by: Girls, Inc.
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12. Excel Beyond the Bell SA
• By working together, we will build a stronger
community where our children can learn and play
beyond the bell.
• For more information:
– Visit us online: www.beyondthebellsa.org
– Email: cynthia@sanantonioyouth.org

13. San Antonio Youth Literacy‟s
“Let‟s Read!” Program
Presented by:
Mary Flannigan
Community Development Director
San Antonio Youth Literacy

14. About SAYL
• Founded in 1984
• Originally a media-based program in
high schools
• “Let‟s Read!” developed in 1999
• “Let‟s Read!” is currently in over 38
schools and educational agencies

15. The SAYL Staff
• Executive Director - Pat Medina
• Program Director - Christina Martinez
• Community Development Director -
Mary Flannigan

16. Our Mission
To promote the literacy skills of San
Antonio‟s at-risk youth.

17. The “Let‟s Read!” Goals
• To provide opportunities for guided
reading practice with a caring individual
• To foster an enjoyment of reading
• To enhance motivation and self-esteem of
at-risk children through the experience
of reading

18. „09 – „10 Program Statistics
454 Students Served
2600 Volunteer Reading Tutor
Hours
241 Volunteer Reading Tutors
Our Success

19. Volunteer Reading Tutor Requirements
• Commit to tutoring 1 hour a week for a minimum
of 8 weeks
• Pass a Criminal Background Check
• Complete Volunteer Application
• Complete a “Let‟s Read!” Training

20. The First Tutoring Session
• Greeted by SAYL staff
• Find the designated tutoring spot - meet
Campus Site Director
• Help find your student and meet their
teacher
• Help familiarize you with the campus, i.e.
restrooms, main office sign-in, etc.

21. “Let‟s Read!” Trunk
• Trunks are at each site and are
maintained by SAYL
• Libraries
• Paperwork &
Folders
• Other Supplies

22. Student Assessments
Why do we assess students?
• To determine which reading level to start with
• To determine who is most in need of help
• To assess the student‟s success from the
beginning to the end of the year

23. How to Pick a Book
• Find the student‟s Reading Grade Level (RGL) on
the Student‟s Folder
• Begin tutoring using a book with a Reading Level
closest to, but not above, the child‟s Reading
Grade level
Example:
Reading Level is 1.2 pick a 1.0 book
Reading Level is K.9 pick a K.5 book

24. The Tutoring Session
• Talk Time I
• Book Introduction
• Story Time I
• Question and Review
• Story Time II
• Comprehension Check and Stretch
• Extension activities (if time permits)
• Talk Time II

25. Talk Time I
2 minutes - Spend two minutes just talking
about anything

26. Book Introduction
3-4 minutes - Have the child take a “picture
walk” through the book

27. Story Time I
 With students reading below 1.0 read the
story to them twice. Make sure to point out
the words as you are reading.
 With student reading above 1.0 use one of
three ways to read with your student:
1. “You read a page; then I‟ll read the next page.”
2. “You and I will read the story together.”
3. “I‟ll read a part, and then you read the same part I just
read.”

28. Question and Review
3-4 minutes - ask questions appropriate for the
particular story
Sample Questions:
• Where did the story take place?
• Who were the main characters?
• What happened in the story?
• What was the most important part of the story?
• Was there a problem in the story? How was it solved?

29. Story Time II
 For students reading below 1.0 have them
read the story with you. Make sure to point
out the words as you are reading.
1. “You read a page; then I‟ll read the next page.”
2. “You and I will read the story together.”
3. “I‟ll read a part, and then you read the same part I just
read.”
 For students reading above 1.0 have them
read the story to you.

30. Comprehension
Check & Stretch
3-4 minutes - Ask higher level questions requiring
the child to do a bit more thinking to “stretch”
their brain

31. Extension Activities

32. Talk Time II
2 minutes - Always end the session with two
more minutes of personal talk. It‟s important
to build a bond of friendship and trust

33. Walk Away With a Smile
It leaves your child with a good feeling and
sets the tone for the next visit

34. How do I get Involved?
Visit www.sayl.org or call 210-299-1533
Summer Program: June – August
School Year Program: October - May

35. Thank You!
Thank You!

36. Literacy Fiesta

37. Community Alignment/Call to Action
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38. BASELINE DATA AND TARGETS FOR THE YEAR 2020.
RECOMMENDED KEY INDICATORS OR MEASURES OF WHERE WE ARE:
• KINDERGARTEN READINESS
•COLLEGE READINESS
•3RD GRADE READING
•HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES
•COLLEGE ENROLLMENT
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39. SA 2020 Standard and Target
3RD GRADE READING: In 2010, 91% of students taking the TAKS in English
Met Standard. 46% of students had scores that were considered
Commended (TEA Academic Excellence Indicator System).
TARGET: 80% AT COMMENDED STANDARD, 95% DEMONSTRATING
PROFICIENCY. (Note: This may change slightly with STAAR, but 95%
should be reading on grade level by 2020.)
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40. “Let’s Read!”
District 5840
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42. Where Do You Fit In?
•http://www.literacysanantonio.com/co
ntent/publications
•LITERACY San Antonio Coalition
Community Plan and Recommendations
•Let us know:
info@literacysanantonio.com
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43. Closing Remarks/Announcements
- Next Meeting Dates:
- Tuesday, August 9th, 9:30-11:30AM
- Tuesday, November 8th, 9:30-11:30AM
- Literacy San Antonio Communications:
info@literacysanantonio.com

44. Thank You!
―A City that reads, succeeds!‖
―Un pueblo que lee, progresa!‖
www.literacysanantonio.com