Arkansas Needs Student Volunteer Readers!
Due to the LEARNS Act, all Arkansas public high school students are required to complete 75 hours of community service in order to graduate, starting with the Class of 2027. (You can read more about Community Service Learning requirements here.)
That’s no small order, and it’s one that has left many students and their caregivers searching for volunteer programs that will suit their individual needs and busy schedules. Finding a “one-size-fits-all” volunteer opportunity may seem impossible, but for Arkansas teens seeking flexible volunteer opportunities, allow me to introduce the Student Volunteer Reader Program, made possible through the Arkansas Department of Education and the Arkansas State Library.
Read more to find out how you can make a positive impact in your community by reading and reviewing nominees for the Arkansas Diamond Primary Award and the Charlie May Simon Award!
What is the Arkansas Diamond Primary Award?
The Arkansas Diamond Primary Award is a student-choice award for picture books selected for readers Kindergarten - 3rd Grade in the state of Arkansas.
What is the Charlie May Simon Award?
The Charlie May Simon Award is a student-choice award for books selected for readers 4th - 6th Grade in the state of Arkansas.
What Do Student Volunteer Readers Do?
As committees for the Arkansas Diamond Primary Award and the Charlie May Simon Award begin to review the upcoming nominee submissions each Spring, older students who have aged out of the voting groups for these awards can become Student Volunteer Readers who read titles from the potential nominee lists and provide input about the books being considered for next year’s ballot.
Many of these titles can be read at your local public library – you are not required to purchase any titles to participate as a volunteer reader. You can also utilize your local library’s Wi-Fi and public computers to submit your digital book report forms!
Student Volunteer Readers provide the award committees with valuable feedback for the titles under consideration and earn volunteer hours for the time they spend reading and reviewing them.
- Student Volunteer Readers for the Arkansas Diamond Primary Award can earn 30 minutes of volunteer time per each picture book nominee that they read and review.
- Student Volunteer Readers for the Charlie May Simon Award can earn volunteer hours equivalent to the time they spend reading each nominee.
How Do I Sign Up to Be a Student Volunteer Reader?
Teens will need to complete the Student Reader Sign Up Form online with their parent or guardian in order to participate as a Student Volunteer Reader:
- Here is the 2025-2026 link to the Arkansas Diamond Primary Award Student Reader Sign Up Form.
- Here is the 2025-2026 link to the Charlie May Simon Award Student Reader Sign Up Form.
PLEASE REMEMBER: If you would like to sign up as a volunteer reader for BOTH the Arkansas Diamond Primary Award and the Charlie May Simon Award, you will need to sign up for each award separately, by visiting both links - they are different. (Each award also has its own book report form - make sure you’re using the correct report form for the books you want to review!)
After your application to be a Student Reader has been processed and accepted, you and your guardian will receive an email with a copy of the current consideration list and a link to the report forms to fill out your book reviews. Please note that sign up submissions are reviewed manually and responses are not instantaneous - please be patient and keep an eye on your email. If you have questions about the status of your sign up form, please contact Ruth Hyatt at ruth.hyatt@ade.arkansas.gov
New nominee reading lists are selected each year in March/April – sign up each consideration cycle to renew your role as a Student Volunteer Reader yearly!
How Do I Obtain a Record of My Service Hours?
Service Hour Time Certificates are calculated quarterly and sent via email by the Student Reader Liaison of the Arkansas Department of Education support team for the Simon and Diamond committees. Student Volunteer Readers can expect to receive record of their accumulated volunteer hours periodically throughout the year, in:
- Early May
- Mid-August
- Mid-November
- Mid-February
Students are responsible for reporting their own community service hours to their school for credit, if applicable. As each school's policy for service hour documentation may differ slightly, it's always a good idea to check with your school beforehand to ensure a volunteer program like this one meets their requirements. It's also helpful to know what additional information you may need to provide your school with for service hour documentation in advance, so that you can track and report your hours correctly.
What if I Have Additional Questions About the Student Volunteer Reader Program?
If you would like more information about becoming a Student Volunteer Reader, please contact:
Ruth Hyatt
Librarian, Library Development
ruth.hyatt@ade.arkansas.gov
(501) 682-2860