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Get Involved

What are some of the most important things that we can do to help our kids?

As a parent

  • Help parents understand how their child is doing in reading and how they are meeting proficiency standards across all grade levels

  • Warmly greet young people when you encounter them, wherever you encounter them

  • Attend youth events

  • If you are an experienced teacher, consider being a mentor or coach for a teacher newer to the profession

  • Join a professional learning community to share your knowledge and expertise with others

  • Help create a community conversation around the importance of literacy in the early grades and about the importance of postsecondary education.

  • Become a tutor and help children in kindergarten through third grade learn to read.

  • Become a mentor and help high school students graduate and move on to college or other training.

  • Invite TAP4E representatives to talk to your church group or social group.

  • Mentor a young person.

  • Donate books to early childhood programs.

  • Provide a variety of reading materials in your home and read regularly to your child.

  • Help your child with homework or find a family member or friend who can help each day.

  • Substitute TV watching with conversation, physical activity, reading, and educational games.

  • Make sure your child goes to school ready to learn every day by having a proper breakfast beforehand.

  • Talk with your child’s teacher on a regular basis to find out how your child is doing and see if there are any areas that need improvement.

  • Make sure your child attends school regularly.

  • Find a tutoring or mentoring organization that can help your child, if necessary.

  • Talk to your child about the importance of postsecondary education and the impact it will have on their future.

  • Seek opportunities to expand your own education.

  • Seek assistance in developing a financial plan for your child’s education, including learning more about financial aid and scholarships.

  • Make sure your child receives regular checkups from a pediatrician or family doctor.

  • Promote the advantages of high quality early childhood education to your employees.

  • Encourage your employees to become tutors or mentors.

  • Provide scholarship assistance or summer employment to college students who attended a Smith County high school.

  • Provide internships, apprenticeships and job-shadowing opportunities for youth.

  • Share your career expertise with students by participating in local career fairs and events.

  • Make sure preschool programs and Pre-K-12 education are adequately funded, across all qualified early care providers, and across all schools. Ensure that all are held to the highest standard of accountability.

  • Contact your elected officials and make sure they understand that funding education is a top priority. Make sure that education is adequately funded and all schools meet high academic standards.

  • Fund what has proven to work in boosting academic achievement and postsecondary success.

As a Teacher

As a Volunteer

As a Business Owner

As a church member or church leader

  • Host meetings to encourage discussion about education within your congregation.

  • Provide information and a link to the TAP4E Report in your church bulletin.

  • Encourage school-age children to attend school regularly and, if needed, to get connected to mentors or tutors.

  • Encourage adults to become more involved in the education of the children in their lives.

  • Encourage high school students to apply for college and for financial aid and scholarships.

As a Policy Maker

As a Taxpayer

As a Philanthropist

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