A free after-school reading program is coming to the San Tan Valley Library this fall, and families need to register by Sept. 15, the same day it begins.

Read Better Be Better runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from Sept. 15 through Nov. 5, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the San Tan Valley Library, 31505 N. Schnepf Road. There is no cost.

How the Program Works

The program pairs two students rather than putting a child in front of a tutor.

Younger students, kindergarten through third grade, take the Reader role. Older students, fourth through eighth grade, take the Leader role and work with them. The sessions move through listening, reading, and making connections between what a student reads and what they already know.

That pairing is the point. The older student is not there to supervise. They are practicing a skill of their own, which is why the program tracks results for both roles.

What Students Get

Every participant receives a snack, prize books, activity time, and a graduation ceremony with prizes at the end.

Students in the Leader role also receive a free T-shirt, volunteer hours, and a letter of recommendation on request. For a middle schooler starting to think about high school applications or scholarship paperwork, documented volunteer hours and a letter are worth more than they might appear.

According to figures the organization reports from caregiver surveys, 84.6 percent of Readers better understood what they read after taking part, and 72.1 percent of Leaders showed increased confidence.

How to Register

Registration closes Sept. 15.

Families can register online here.

With questions, ask at the San Tan Valley Library front desk or call 520-866-8035.

Read Better Be Better is a Phoenix-based nonprofit, and the San Tan Valley Library is one of its community partners.