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Calling all lawyers: Literacy group seeks tutoring help

 
Published Nov. 29, 2017|Updated Nov. 29, 2017

The St. Petersburg Bar Association is issuing a call for its members to serve as reading tutors through the Lawyers for Literacy program.

The program works with third-graders who risk being held back from from fourth grade if they don't pass the state's reading test in the spring. It has been around since 2003, with lawyers and legal professionals volunteering at 31 schools over the years in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Clearwater. But this year the focus will be on three St. Petersburg elementary schools -Campbell Park, Maximo and Lakewood – that were highlighted in the Tampa Bay Times' "Failure Factories" series.

Volunteer tutors go to schools in teams once a week for an hour during lunchtime, from January to April. New tutors are asked to come forward by Dec. 7 to allow time for the school district to approve them as volunteers and to be trained in a one-hour orientation. The tutoring begins Jan. 8 at the three St. Petersburg schools, plus 17 others across the area.

The effort will be discussed at the Lawyers for Literacy Kickoff Social from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Mayor Rick Kriseman will be the featured speaker. For more information, visit LawyersForLiteracy.org or call (727) 323-4020.