Heart4Schools

Heart4Schools is a network of churches serving students and teachers in South Carolina. The focus is on three avenues of service: Reading Buddies, Teacher Support, and Backpack Buddies. Churches typically begin in one area and expand ministries over time.

Why should I get involved?

- Partnering with a school is a great way to impact your community.

- Third grade reading levels are indicators for future success. Those not on grade level are 4 times more likely to drop out of high school and if they live in poverty, they are 8 times more likely to drop out.

- Students who drop out experience significantly higher rates of juvenile delinquency, lifelong poverty, dependence on welfare, adult illiteracy and incarceration. (SC Education Oversight Committee.)

- 34% of all SC 4^th graders are not reading at grade level.

- 25% of South Carolina children live in poverty. One in five children go to school hungry every week.

- Teacher retention rates are declining. 25% of first year South Carolina teachers hired for the 2017-2018 year left their positions during or at the end of the school year.

- Church members have opportunities to use God-given gifts, interests and abilities to make a difference in lives, fulfilling their purpose and growing in discipleship.

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace… in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."

Peter 4: 10-12

Get Started

Get Involved

The South Carolina Education Oversight Committee has identified three areas of need. You will probably want to choose one area and expand over time. Be sure to begin with the expressed needs of the school principal.

Reading Buddies	teacher support	backpack buddies
Commit to read with a child for 30 minutes once a week.	Provide tangible support and encouragement for teachers.	Provide weekend food for students who are hungry.
This can improve their reading level as well as their confidence. Children who have a mentor once a week for 6 months or longer are 87% more likely to graduate from high school. When a child does not read on grade level in third grade, future success is hindered. This is because in early grades, students learn to read. After third grade, they read to learn. Reading Scores are directly related to future achievement in all other subject areas and can be a future predictor of drop-out rates.	Provide teacher meals such as a Back to School Brunch, a Christmas meal, Teacher Appreciation luncheon, or End of Year Celebration, or something as simple as a coffee bar. Gift classrooms with school supplies after Christmas when teachers often have to replenish out of their own pockets. Give first and second-year teachers gift cards. It takes a lot to set up a classroom. Gift cards to Wal-Mart, Target, or a teacher supply store would show your appreciation and support.	Provide nutritious foods that do not require cooking to help children during times when they are unable to get meals from school. Provide food items in backpacks to send home over the weekend, or over the summer. Involve church members in collecting funds, food items, packing bags, and delivering backpacks to schools.
Interested in becoming a Reading Buddy?	Interested in supporting teachers?	Interested in providing backpacks?
START THE CONVERSATION