Cummins and KIPP Indy Public Schools are teaming up to improve literacy in an Indianapolis neighborhood.
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"There is an urgent need to help students recover from the last several years of challenges as showing recent low reading scores," says Brian Mormino, executive director of technical and environmental systems at Cummins and the Cummins Advocating for Racial Equality initiative Academic Acheivement Team leader. "KIPP Indy is taking their students to new heights by providing them with a high-quality education shifting instructional methods, additional programming, assessment and leadership systems to align with the decades of research termed the Science of Reading. They are making an impact with the children in the community, and Cummins is here to help support the meaningful work being done by the teachers, community volunteers, students' families and, of course, the students."
Martha Cortes, KIPP's chief partnerships officer, says Cummins' gift is the largest corporate gift the organization has received thus far.
"The funds help our staff continue their development in providing the additional programs and support what is needed to move the needle around literacy," Cortes says. "Over the past year, we have seen the most growth in both reading and math across the region since pre-pandemic years, which is a true testament to the effectiveness of our program."
Mormino says Cummins places a priority on building more prosperous communities, and that increasing literacy scores does just that. Both national and state assessments show Indiana's grade-schoolers are slipping in reading -- in 2022, only 33% of Indiana fourth-graders and 31% of eighth-graders were proficient in reading. The implications go beyond test scores, Cummins says. Third-graders who are not proficient in reading are more likely not to graduate on time or drop out completely.
"We have been working with KIPP Indy for about 18 months and know, first-hand, the benefits of their program and the difference they are making in the future of these young minds," Mormino says. "Cummins is excited to be part of the journey."
