A group of Rock Lake Elementary students are especially excited to be starting school this year as they entered third grade.

An increase in their reading skills — and in turn, their confidence — is a major reason for the change. But at this time last year, the story was different. That's because many of these students considered reading a challenge.

"Most of these kids are at pre-primer level or primer level. And when they're at that level, which means they're at kindergarten or below level and they're in the second grade, they might need a little bit of help," said Ann Lutz, of Read2Succeed.

The numbers are staggering: In some schools, as much as 33 percent of the kids are reading below their grade level.

Reasons for the lack of reading development vary. But one solution may be the Read2Succeed program, where Lutz works with kids for 30 minutes a week with a goal of helping them reach an accelerated reading level.

Out of six kids Lutz worked with, three made the honor roll and one was named the most improved student in class.

About 1-in-4 kids never graduate from high school. But programs like Read2Succeed aim to give students the tools they need to do well in school — and to graduate.

Lutz said it's the one-on-one interaction the makes a difference.

"It will help give them enough esteem to carry them through with other subjects, and they started doing better in math, all the other subjects they were working with," Lutz said.

Lutz also volunteers in the school library, where she started a homework program for kids in a nearby neighborhood. And right outside of her house, she has her very own well-stocked library. The books, she said, are available to anyone who wants one.

For her devotion, Lutz was awarded the Volunteer Florida Champion of Service Award for 2014.

"I've done the traveling, I've done the gardening, but this has been so rewarding for me and for these children," Lutz said. "I mean, can't you see how they love books?"

Volunteers for Read2Succeed are always needed. They'll get training and a backpack with supplies needed to work with the kids.

For more information, go to their website.