Two-thirds of children who cannot read by the time they’re in fourth grade will wind up in jail or on welfare, according to the World Literacy Foundation. A San Jose couple is working to break that disturbing trend.<\/p>\n
Alicia and Darrell Cortez recently arrived at Shirakawa Elementary School in San Jose bearing books and the promise of prizes.<\/p>\n
“We’re going to reward them with this experience of a lifetime, a holiday shopping spree,” Darrell Cortez said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He and his wife Alicia started Shop with a Cop Foundation Silicon Valley in 2008. Just before Darrell retired from 30 years on the San Jose police force, he was looking for way to serve the community.<\/p>\n
He said he liked the concept behind the national Shop with a Cop. Although they’re not affiliated with the nationwide initiative, the couple started taking underserved kids on a shopping spree for the holidays.<\/p>\n
“The joy for me is the actual day of the event – to see the joy on the faces of the children,” said Alicia, a retired educator.<\/p>\n
In 2015, they added a 10-week literacy program in underperforming San Jose schools targeting third graders.<\/p>\n
“It’s the turning point. It’s where they’re learning to read and they make that transition to reading to learn,” Alicia said.<\/p>\n
The couple knows reading can transform a child’s path in life. The Literacy Project Foundation says 85% of youth in juvenile court system struggle to read.<\/p>\n
“The juvenile hall-to-prison pipeline begins in the classroom so we have to do what we can to put a stop to that,” Darrell said.<\/p>\n
On their recent visit to Shirakawa Elementary, the Cortezes and their volunteers introduced books to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The nonprofit helped raise reading scores at the school by 18% last year, so more than half of the students can read at or above grade level.<\/p>\n
Isaac’s test scores jumped last year.<\/p>\n
“Then I started doing that program and actually locked in and I passed and I was excited and got all the prizes,” he said.<\/p>\n
Martin now reads for entertainment.<\/p>\n
“When I went on vacation, I bring one of my favorite books and it helps me,” said the fourth grader.<\/p>\n
The 200 students in the literacy program receive a Shop with a Cop Foundation Silicon Valley shopping spree during the holiday season. They each receive a gift card for $300. Top readers get to spend $50 more.<\/p>\n
Take Samantha. She not only bought herself a Hello Kitty plushie during last year’s shopping festivities, but she also found that she enjoyed the required 20 minutes of reading a day.<\/p>\n
“I think I just want to read because I want to, not because I want something,” she beamed.<\/p>\n
Peter Diaz. California Community President of Citizens Equity First Credit Union (CEFCU) helps sponsor the Cortez’s service projects.<\/p>\n
“They’re all in,” Diaz said. “They help build that foundation which helps improve educational success, so it’s an investment for the future.”<\/p>\n
“It’s rewarding and humbling at the same time to know that these students are excelling,” Darrell said.<\/p>\n
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