Governors and other state policymakers are turning to volunteer reading tutoring programs to improve children's reading ability. The Committee for Economic Development, a nonpartisan organization of business leaders and educators, reports a steady rise in the number of businesses that are volunteering personnel to participate in business-school partnerships across the nation. Quality volunteer tutoring reading programs work. Research shows that children participating in these programs achieve academic gains and increase their self- confidence. Quality programs have four elements: (1) training for volunteers; (2) assessment-based instruction; (3) structured reading sessions; and (4) an onsite coordinator. Governors concerned about improving literacy skills in all children may want to consider the following: encouraging the development of research-proven volunteer programs; including the four principles mentioned above; and focusing on early intervention. Research from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development found that early intervention can reduce the percentage of children with reading deficits from the current 20% to 25% to 5% or fewer. (NKA)