Ak-Chin Indian Community

The Ak-Chin Indian Community (ACIC) library in Maricopa, Arizona, will create a year-round reading tutoring program, fulfilling a key community need, as there currently are no established reading tutoring programs within the Ak-Chin Indian Community. Grant funds will also be used to purchase a passenger van to transport students to and from the library. This will enable core library users of children 10 years and under to participate in library programs because although ACIC has a tribal transit service, they cannot ride alone on the transit bus. Funds will support salaries for Reading Tutors, who will facilitate a Buddy’s Reading Circle program focused on teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, including assessments of the student’s reading levels. Funds will also support purchasing books for the library. The project will benefit Ak-Chin Indian Community students in grades first through fifth grade and their families.