Background
Read Ahead collects and compiles personal information on those who participate in the program, i.e. students and mentors, in order to appropriately track and monitor program information and performance, as well as secure the funds necessary to operate the program.
As part of a period of organizational renewal and strategic planning in 2015, Read Ahead has an increased emphasis on clarifying the program’s goals and impact in order to stay competitive as a school-based student-focused nonprofit organization. Along with a revised mission statement (below) that emphasizes students’ confidence and love of reading, Read Ahead is placing a renewed emphasis on outcomes and program measurement, which requires rigorous data collection and analysis. This measurement will help Read Ahead better understand and serve its target student population.
Protection of Identifying Individual Information
All individual information collected is kept secure and protected among Read Ahead internal stakeholders (i.e. staff, board, and mentors) and will not be shared with the public. Identifying individual information about any student will not be distributed in any public manner. For example, this means that only students’ first names will be used when sharing success stories or photos.
Aggregate Use of Information
Student information will be shared only in the aggregate for purposes such as describing the characteristics of our participant population on the Read Ahead website, in grant proposals, in program descriptions, etc. Note: Students’ free/reduced-price lunch status will solely be used in the aggregate for Read Ahead’s larger organizational reporting.
For example, the percentage of Read Ahead students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and the demographic breakdown of the student population is often required when applying for the funding necessary to operate Read Ahead’s program. An example of how this information might be reported is:
At PS 999, 85% of the Read Ahead student population is eligible for free/reduced-price lunch and 15% is Asian, 15% is White, 25% is Black, and 45% is Latino/Hispanic.
Parental/Guardian Consent
The Read Ahead student permission slip informs parents on how Read Ahead collects, uses, and protects student information and photos/videos, and parent may opt out of photo permissions and/or decide not to share the information with the students’ mentors if they so choose. Parents are provided access to this full document for their review if desired.
Information Shared With Mentors
Mentors are provided with information about the students with whom they work as it is pertinent to their mentoring relationship, when parental consent is provided. This includes background information on why students are part of Read Ahead, levels of confidence in and enthusiasm for reading, interests, languages spoken, etc. Mentors are instructed on how to keep student information protected and must confirm their agreement as part of the mentor onboarding process. Note: Students’ free/reduced-price lunch status will not be shared with their mentors.
Social Media & Online Presence
Read Ahead shares information and photos about program activities which often include student stories via its online presence (website and e-newsletters) and on social media (currently Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn). Read Ahead only uses students’ first names and takes other measures necessary so that students are not able to be identified by any member of the public through Read Ahead communications. Read Ahead only shares photos of students whose parents have consented.