Mercer Street Friends Celebrates Reading Intervention Students

Community Schools Initiative Helps Trenton Students Reach Grade-Level Reading Proficiency

Mercer Street Friends celebrated the literacy growth and academic achievements of students participating in its Reading Intervention Program during a special celebration hosted by the organization.

Through its nationally recognized Community Schools Initiative, Mercer Street Friends offers Reading Intervention to help students strengthen literacy skills and reach grade-level reading proficiency. The program is offered at three of the organization’s six Community Schools: Luis Muñoz-Rivera Elementary, B.C. Gregory Elementary, and Cadwalader Elementary, all in Trenton.

Students in the program showcased their progress by reading aloud to parents, teachers, peers, representatives from the New Jersey Department of Education, and Mercer County elected officials. They also shared personal reflections on their learning journeys and received recognition for their accomplishments.

Community Schools bring together schools, families, and community partners to provide integrated supports and expanded learning opportunities that help students succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.

Through the initiative, students participating in the Reading Intervention Program receive consistent, small-group instruction from retired certified teachers during the school day. Using a High-Impact Tutoring approach, educators provide personalized literacy support and progress monitoring to help students strengthen skills, build confidence, and achieve grade-level reading proficiency.

“The achievements we celebrated today demonstrate the power of investing in the whole child,” said Randall West, Chief Administrative Officer of Mercer Street Friends. “When schools, families, educators, and community partners work together, students receive the support they need to overcome challenges and reach important milestones. Seeing these students grow as readers and learners validates what can be accomplished through the Community Schools model.”

Since its inception in 2021, the Reading Intervention Program has demonstrated significant growth in both participation and student outcomes. In the 2024-25 school year, 125 students in two schools participated in the program, with the percentage of students reading on grade level increasing by 190%. Building on that success, the program expanded to three schools in 2025–26, serving 162 students helping to increase grade-level reading proficiency. Final assessments will be conducted in June to evaluate student progress and further measure the program’s impact on grade-level reading proficiency.

“The growth we see from students in the Reading Intervention Program annually is remarkable,” said Bernadette Trapp, Director of Community Schools. “Literacy is the foundation upon which all future learning is built. By helping students achieve grade-level reading proficiency, we are empowering them to engage more fully in the classroom, build confidence and create stronger pathways to long-term academic success.”