Item Description:
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Agmt PR00006833 with Reading Partners to provide reading assistance curriculum at multiple Hennepin County Library locations, 01/02/25-07/31/25, NTE $40,000
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement PR00006833 to provide reading assistance curriculum, assessments and materials for the Let’s Read Program at Hennepin County Library sites, during the period of January 2, 2025 through July 31, 2025, in the not to exceed amount of $40,000 be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the Agreement on behalf of the county, and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
Reading Partners provides proprietary curriculum and tutoring materials as well as reading assessments for students and families participating in the Let’s Read program. Let's Read is part of the library's direct response to the crisis of low reading levels in K5 students across Hennepin County. Let's Read is also in response to the recently passed READ Act. It provides a reading curriculum based on structured literacy and 1:1 support from volunteer tutors, who are coached by HCL staff Lead Tutors.
The program is designed to reduce education disparity and improve learning outcomes among historically under-resourced neighborhoods in Hennepin County. The eight libraries where the reading tutoring programs are held are libraries with higher numbers of BIPOC families and higher numbers of newly arrived families. These are groups of residents who experience racial disparities and often live in neighborhoods that have been historically under-resourced.
Contracts with this vendor in the last year cost $93,000, and the proposed contract would bring the total dollar threshold to $133,000 thus requiring Board approval.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval