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Project Reads

Project Reads (PR) provides individual tutoring to K–3 students in Allen County to help them develop and strengthen their literacy skills. The program’s primary goal is to bring students up to grade-level reading by third grade, increasing their chances of high school graduation and long-term academic success. Through weekly remedial mentoring and engaging, leveled reading experiences, Project Reads fosters a love of reading and ensures students are better prepared for fourth grade.

Colorful flyer for the 2025 Project Reads Summer Program Schedule, a K–3 reading program held at Allen County Public Library (ACPL) branches in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The flyer includes the following sessions: Georgetown Branch ACPL – Tuesdays at 1:00 PM, 6600 E State Blvd. Dates: June 3, 10, 17, & 24 Main Library ACPL – Tuesdays at 1:00 PM, 900 Library Plz. Dates: July 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 Tecumseh Branch ACPL – Wednesdays at 1:15 PM, 1411 E State Blvd. Dates: June 4, 11, 18, & 25 Waynedale Branch ACPL – Thursdays at 1:00 PM, 2200 Lower Huntington Rd. Dates: July 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31 The flyer features an open book at the bottom, with trees, butterflies, a castle, and a sunny landscape emerging from its pages. The "Project Reads" logo appears at the bottom left, and “2025 Summer Program Schedule” is written vertically on the right.

Learning Photo

Volunteer Today

You can positively impact our community by helping students achieve their reading goals.

Project Reads, a program of The Literacy Alliance, has an unprecedented need for volunteer tutors this school year. Tutors will meet with their K-3rd grade student for one hour weekly from September to May at schools throughout Allen County.

  • Just one hour a week
  • Help students achieve reading goals
  • Offer encouragement
  • Have a positive impact on your community

We need you! To get started, call 260.426.7323, email, or use the button below to apply.

Volunteer
Volunteer Cathy and Student Hazel

The Magic of 20 Minutes a Day

Did you know that you are your children’s first and most important teacher? It’s true! While this can feel like a rather serious responsibility, it is also the most rewarding part of being a parent! You may be surprised by the magic you can generate by reading to and with your children for just 20 minutes a day.

What’s more, the 20 minutes need not be covered in one sitting. Any combination of chunks of time will work if the total number of minutes equals 20. In these magical minutes, you can:

  • Strengthen your precious bond with your children.
  • Prepare your children for success in school and a lifetime of learning.
  • Take a key step in raising your children to be happy, thriving adults who improve the quality of life in our community.
  • Model good reading practices for your children, and they will develop a love of reading as well!

And…don’t stop reading aloud to and with your children once they become independent readers! Develop a reading tradition that will continue to enrich your children’s education for many years to come! In many families, reading together is part of the bedtime routine, just like brushing their teeth. Children look forward to bedtime, and sharing a good story is a great way to help everyone relax and wind down at the end of the day.

How lucky your children are to have you as their first and most important teacher and a willingness to give only 20 minutes a day to their reading…and their futures. Need some ideas on good books to start with? Check out my reading list for parents below.

Your Biggest Fan,

Dr. Maxine Huffman

Download Suggested Book List

Program History

Origins and Early Growth
Project Reads began as part of the Allen County Local Education Fund (ACLEF), created in 1991 following a school desegregation lawsuit. Backed by Lincoln National Corporation, ACLEF funded educational innovation and later shifted focus to early literacy. In 1994, Project Reads launched to help K–3 students read at grade level by third grade, providing teacher training and support to over 15,000 students.

Community-Based Expansion
By 1997, Project Reads began offering after-school tutoring with community volunteers. ACLEF also introduced the Parent Literacy Enrichment (PLE) program and partnered with ITT to fund math, science, and technology education.

Everybody Reads and Countywide Reach
In 2000, ACLEF joined the $5 million Lilly Endowment-funded Everybody Reads initiative, expanding Project Reads and launching in-school services like Balanced Literacy training. AmeriCorps grants supported this growth. The program became available to all students in Allen County, including those in non-public schools.

Organizational Changes
Under new leadership in 2002, ACLEF expanded beyond Fort Wayne and rebranded as Allen County Education Partnership (ACEP) in 2004, reflecting its broader service area and focus. In 2009, ACEP led the Learn United initiative to offer in-school literacy tutoring, ending its role in 2011.

Joining The Literacy Alliance
In 2021, ACEP merged with The Literacy Alliance to sustain Project Reads. TLA continues offering one-on-one tutoring to improve IREAD-3 outcomes and address learning loss—especially critical following the pandemic.

Today
As of the 2023–24 school year, Project Reads operates at pre-pandemic levels, serving 18 sites across all four Allen County districts and one parochial school.