MILWAUKEE— The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Stritch Family Literacy Center, a local reading and writing tutoring program with an 80-year history, is opening on UWM’s campus Jan. 27.
The center welcomes students with literacy challenges and will offer individualized learning plans implemented through weekly private tutoring sessions. UWM is picking up the program, which was previously housed at Cardinal Stritch University.
Twenty-four elementary and middle school students will attend the inaugural spring session. Learners with a varying range of literacy issues were invited by word of mouth, primarily by the program’s master instructors, who are or were educators at Milwaukee-area schools or board members. The instructors will provide research-based tutoring, including intensive instruction for children who need extra support, over the 15-week session.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Milwaukee fourth-graders tested lower in literacy skills than students in other large cities, with around 88% students scoring below literacy proficiency for their age.
“It’s just not acceptable,” said Mary Kellner, the president of the board of the Stritch Family Literacy Center. “Some kids pick up reading more easily, some kids struggle more and need some extra help, and some kids struggle a lot and need individual help.”
The private tutoring sessions are planned and led by master instructors, all of whom hold advanced degrees in education and undergo an extensive training program hosted by UWM’s School of Education and the Stritch Family Literacy Center Board. Kellner notes that the specialized instructor training and one-on-one attention are what set the literacy center apart from other programs.
“The depth of the program makes it stand out from other tutoring programs in the area,” Kellner said. “We do a thorough assessment that pinpoints the exact skill sets the child may be lacking, such as phonics or reading comprehension. Then master instructors zero in on those skills.”
The learning center’s new chapter
The program is a revitalization of the Cardinal Stritch Literacy Center, which was one of the first literacy programs in the country. After Cardinal Stritch University closed in 2023, UWM faculty connected with a dedicated group of volunteers led by Kellner to offer the literacy center a new home at UWM’s Children’s Learning Center.
“UWM is the go-to school for kids in Milwaukee,” said Kellner. “It’s nice to have young students experience the campus and for UWM to be a partner in this life-changing program.”
Tina Freiburger, dean of the School of Education at UWM, welcomes the partnership and is looking forward to serving students in the area.
“This partnership reflects the very best of what a public university can be,” Freiburger said. “By building on the strong legacy of the Cardinal Stritch Literacy Center, we are expanding access to high-quality literacy support and creating meaningful, lasting impact for children and families across our community.”
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
Members of the media are invited to tour UWM’s Stritch Family Literacy Center upon appointment. Please reach out to Kristine Lize (kcmarver@uwm.edu) to coordinate.
