President Clinton later today joins former presidents Ford, Carter and Bush at“the president's summit for America's future” aimed at recruiting one million volunteer tutors to provide afterschool, weekend and summer reading help for up to three million children. Mr. Clinton will ask Congress this coming week for nearly three billion dollars to fund a five-year program called “America Reads”.
　　The program would fund the coordination efforts of 20 thousand reading specialists and it would also give grants to help parents help children read by the third grade, or about age eight. During his Saturday radio address , the president explained why the program is important. “We need ‘America Reads’ and we need it now. Studies show that if the fourth-graders fail to read well, They are likely to drop off school, and less likely to succeed in life. But, 40 percent of them still can't read at a basic level.”
　　Volunteer tutors, who provide community service in exchange for college funding, are being used in literacy and tutoring programs.The programs, initiated by President Clinton has come on the criticism by Congress. 　　
　　The president says many of the Philadelphia summit's corporate sponsors will recruit tutors.Dozen of colleges and Universities are prepare to sent thousands of their students in support of the Program.