Message from the President, Tyrone Merchant
“My name is Tyrone Merchant and I am the president of READ30®, Inc.; a non-profit 501c3 organization, est. March 2018. We are organizing a program to assist under-served youth in effectively developing reading and comprehension skills.
Our mission is to provide a free reading program to bridge the gap as students transition to third grade. Our research indicates that if a child cannot read proficiently by 3rd grade the probability of success decreases immensely. Too many of our young people are drawn to negative influences because they can’t experience a feeling of belonging and success in our schools and society. Of the schools in Duval County nearly 50% of third grade students perform below grade level in language arts, according to the 2019 Florida Standards Assessments.
Read30’s funding sources are based on grants and donations. We are seeking assistance to launch our program for summer of 2022.”
Source: Renaissance Article: 6 more minutes: Struggling readers, reading practice, and growth
Our Purpose
The intent of READ30® is to serve as an initiative to encourage youth, starting with those entering the 3rd grade, to read for a minimum of 30-minutes each day of the week.
Our Vision
Through program growth, READ30®’s vision is to incorporate the youth reading model in an effort to address the needs of the adults in our community.
Our Approach
READ30® will have a network of reading improvement specialist, who will be trained in the latest methods proven to bolster reading capabilities in students of all ages.