A new reading program by the United Way of West Central Mississippi aimed at third-graders will start new school year.

The Leaders Encouraging Advancement in Reading Now, or LEARN, will focus on the reading skills of the grade level in Vicksburg schools in the 2014-15 academic term, said Shannon Royal, the nonprofit’s campaign and community impact assistant.

“The primary components of this program will be the community leaders visiting the schools to discuss the impact of literacy in the kids lives and the importance of developing literacy skills at an early age,” Royal told the Vicksburg Kiwanis this week.

Royal said leaders’ interaction with the students would get them enthused about becoming better readers.

“We want the community advocates to get the children excited about reading.”

Students will be evaluated at the end of next school year to measure the effectiveness of the program.