More than half of the 634,251 students enrolled in the Oklahoma Public School System qualify for the Free or Reduced Price Lunch Program. Of the children who qualify for the program, only 21% are reading at- or above a proficient reading level. Eighty-eight percent of poor readers in the first grade have the probability of being poor readers in the fourth grade. Of the poor readers who are not helped before age nine, 75% will continue having difficulties through high school, and 10-15% will drop out of school. The need for children’s literacy programming is clear, and Project Transformation is one of the only literacy programs in Oklahoma whose sole purpose is to serve the literacy needs of children. With this in mind, our primary goal is to assist children in sustaining and improving their reading levels during the summer months.

Through Project Transformation, children from low-income families read with an adult mentor for thirty minutes each day. This element of positive one-on-one interaction, accompanied by daily activities in computers, arts and crafts, and recreation, fosters a healthy and nurturing environment for at-risk elementary-age children in Oklahoma. The children are also provided with daily social and cultural enrichment activities that they might not otherwise experience, such as trips to the zoo, museums, and other community organizations. Through these multiple areas of programming, Project Transformation effectively connects college interns, elementary schools, churches, local businesses, and non-profit organizations to work toward the common goal of improving each individual camper’s reading level and subsequent academic and life successes.