Volunteers In Public Schools (VIPS) is taking its message to the streets on Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25.  Representatives will man recruitment tables from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day at the corners of Florida/Third and Main/Fifth streets to encourage citizens to volunteer in public schools this upcoming school year.

VIPS needs volunteers to serve with its EveryBody Reads and EveryOne Counts programs, which offer free one-on-one assistance to first, second and third graders who struggle with reading and basic math skills.  In order for a student to be assigned a Reading or Math Friend, he/she must be recommended by his teacher and attend a school in which the programs are housed.

Volunteers must complete an application, attend a mandatory training and pass a background check.  Last year, 654 students were matched with Reading Friends, and 162 students were assigned Math Friends. However, both EveryBody Reads and EveryOne Counts maintained lengthy volunteer request waiting lists.

In an end-of-the-year survey, 100 percent of participating school principals surveyed said EveryBody Reads and EveryOne Counts are effective as in-school tutoring programs and that they wish to retain the programs for the upcoming school year.

VIPS is an independent non-profit that works to foster student success for every child in the East Baton Rouge Parish School system by building support for public education. Interested volunteers may call VIPS at (225) 226-4700 or visit the Web site at www.vips.ebrschools.org.