FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 5, 2002 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 DRAKE TO OFFER FREE TUTORING FOR CHILDREN Drake University's School of Education will soon be offering free tutoring in reading, writing and spelling for children in preschool through sixth grade. The instruction will be provided by Drake graduate and undergraduate students who are preparing to be reading specialists. "This is the first time that Drake has offered the program to the Drake community,” said Dr. Susan Sidney Smith, professor of education at Drake and supervisor of the program. “We also are offering the free tutoring to children in the Head Start program, the I Have a Dream project and local elementary schools in the Des Moines public school district. "We're particularly interested in helping children ages 4 through 12 who are struggling to learn to read or may need additional help in learning to read, write and spell," she added. "We will offer one-to-one tutoring for one hour each week, but space is limited." Each child will be assigned a specific tutor for a 10-week term that will begin Thursday, Feb. 21, and continue through May 2. The tutoring sessions will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays in the School of Education, 3206 University Ave. There will be no tutoring on March 21 due to spring break. To participate in the program, parents must agree to provide transportation to and from the School of Education on Thursday evenings and ensure that their child attends all 10 sessions. For more information and registration, call Kerwin Dobbins at the School of Education, (515) 271-4803.