KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Metropolitan Community Colleges in Kansas City are embracing students who are struggling to read.
MCC offers a program called GEARS, Guided Educational Access to Reading Skills, and general reading and comprehension programs.
Millie Nottingham is Reading Coordinator at Metropolitan Community College Penn Valley Campus. She explained that college-age students struggle to read for a variety of reasons.
"Some didn't learn to read as children or in high school; others had to work and could not attend school," explained Nottingham.
Whatever the reason, Nottingham said the students have decided they want to improve their lives, and they have to be proficient at reading comprehension and writing skills to do it.
All MCC students are tested before they enroll in college. Students who need help with basic reading skills are assigned to the GEARS program before they enroll in college courses.
Nottingham explained that the GEARS program will help students improve their success rate when they do enroll in college courses and also eliminate frustration when confronted with course work that is above the student's skill and grade level. Frustration can often lead to dropping out of college.
After the GEARS program, students can enroll in college courses while they move into the second-level reading comprehension and writing course.
Nottingham said she is proud that her students are willing to do what it takes to learn how to read so they can achieve their goals in life.
