The Jewish Coalition for Literacy, which helps Bay Area elementary schoolchildren learn to read, has announced its spring lineup of training sessions for new tutors.

Volunteer reading tutors are asked to work just one hour a week, helping a disadvantaged student in a local public school learn to read. JCL recruits, trains, places and supports tutors in public elementary schools and after-school programs in grades K-3 throughout the Bay Area.

The training session lasts three hours. People can register at www.jclread.org or by calling one of the numbers below.

San Francisco schedule: 1 p.m. April 23 at Congregation Beth Israel Judea (625 Brotherhood Way) and 1 p.m. June 4 at Congregation Emanu-El (2 Lake St.). For information, call (415) 369-9978 ext. 105.

East Bay schedule: 1 p.m. April 20 at Congregation Netivot Shalom (1316 University Ave., Berkeley) and 1 p.m. April 29 at Congregation B’nai Shalom (74 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek). For information, call (510) 809-4904.

Peninsula schedule: 1 p.m. April 14 at Peninsula JCC (800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City) and 1 p.m. May 19 at Kehillah Jewish High School (3900 Fabian Way, Palo Alto). For information, call (415) 369-9978 ext. 106.

Inspired by Jewish values of social justice, the JCL is a joint project of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council and the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation. The Bay Area JCL, which began 16 years ago and mobilizes some 350 volunteer reading tutors each year, is one of 27 independent affiliates of the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy.