Augustine Literacy Project–Brevard (ALP) provides free, one-to-one, structured literacy instruction to children from economically disadvantaged families across Transylvania County who are struggling to read. The need is significant: nearly half of students in grades 3–5 in Transylvania County are reading below grade level, and 61% of elementary students are economically disadvantaged. Without targeted intervention, these gaps tend to widen over time.
What sets ALP apart is the depth of preparation behind every tutoring session. Volunteer tutors complete 60 hours of structured literacy training before working with students — a level of preparation that uniquely qualifies them to serve learners receiving the most intensive level of school support, including students with dyslexia and other identified reading difficulties. ALP is the only volunteer literacy program in Transylvania County equipped to serve these high-needs learners. Students receive individualized, fifty-minute sessions two to three times per week at their own schools, with research showing that approximately 50 lessons produces an average of one full year of reading growth.
Lake Toxaway Charities is proud to continue its support of Augustine Literacy Project–Brevard. Grant funding will sustain the instructional leadership, volunteer training, curriculum materials, and safety infrastructure that make high-quality, consistent tutoring possible — helping ALP expand its reach and ensure that more Transylvania County children develop the literacy skills that open doors for a lifetime.
Kathryn Polmanteer, Chair
