LEWISTON — Sixth-grader Yousif Ahmed was among the speakers Tuesday when a statewide push to boost literacy was announced at the Lewiston Public Library.

Ahmed said he struggled last year in reading and writing and got written up 30 times for misbehavior. But this year, he’s “good” — and he’s a better reader and a better writer. What made the difference is what he did this summer: He tutored younger students in reading.

“It’s not easy to be a teacher,” Ahmed told reporters attending the “Literacy for ME” news conference. “Students are not listening. They’re talking to their neighbors.” Each day after he tutored, “we wrote a page on what we did.” Teaching helped him improve his skills and his attitude, Ahmed said.

Students tutoring students is one way communities across Maine can improve literacy, education officials said. But today’s literacy is more than reading, and improving it can’t be done by schools alone. Help is needed from businesses, parents and organizations, Maine Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen said.

“Our schools are maxed out,” he said. “They’re doing the best they can do, but there’s only so much they can do when they have those kids for a few hours a day. That’s why we are asking everyone to step up.”

Literacy is not simply learning to read, Bowen said. “It’s about being able to process all the information that comes to us, making meaning out of it and doing something about it.” A higher level of literacy means being able to act on what’s read, solve problems, communicate well, present information to groups “or make your case in a democratic society,” Bowen said.

“We live in a new age,” he said, noting Lewiston’s historic textile mills where decades ago kids out of high school got jobs and earned decent livings for the rest of their lives.

“Those jobs are gone and they’re not coming back,” Bowen said. Today’s jobs require the ability to analyze, interpret, problem solve, collaborate, understand and work with new technology.

The “Literacy for ME” plan calls on communities to build resources to help everyone get to a literacy level to be productive, Bowen said.

In the next two weeks, community forums will be held in six regions throughout the state. Lewiston will host a “Literacy for ME” workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Green Ladle across from Lewiston High School. Others are scheduled in Presque Isle, Machias, Bangor, Augusta and Portland. The Maine Department of Education will work with communities, providing expertise and promoting what works, Bowen said.

There likely won’t be state money for the initiative, he said, adding that it isn’t about building new programs but better coordinating existing efforts, letting the public know where they can go to help or improve skills.

If the plan goes as hoped, one year from now there’ll be regional centers across Maine where people can go for help, Bowen said.

Literacy for ME community workshops

Lewiston: Sept. 27, Green Ladle across from Lewiston High School

Portland: Sept. 28, Seasons Conference Center

Augusta: Sept. 25, Calumet Club

Other meetings will be held in Bangor, Presque Isle and Machias. Each workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information: http://tinyurl.com/cwhrsar