A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Samples of America Reads Challenge Federal Work-Study Programs and National Service Initiatives 

AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY
President Br. William Bloodworth
America Reads Contact: Autumn B. Ferguson
2500 Walton Way - Office of Financial Aid
Augusta, GA
Email: aferguso@aug.edu
URL: www.aug.edu
Telephone:  (706) 737-1431  Fax:  (706) 737-1777
Number of Students: 40  Number of Districts:

Our America Reads Challenge program has been a huge success. We require background checks, as well as identification badges to be worn when working in the schools. We have students placed in elementary schools, as well as a local Literacy Center. Quarterly feedback meetings are held to update training, as well as give the students a chance to give their input. the students keep constant contact with the Department od Education at the University in order to implement ideas, and answer any questions that may arise.

DEKALB COLLEGE
President Jacquelyn M. Belcher
America Reads Contact:  Mr. Dale E. Bittinger
3251 Pantersville Road
Decatur, GA
Email:  dbitting@dekalb.dc.peachnet.edu
URL:  dekalb.dc.peachnet.edu
Telephone:  (404) 244-2262  Fax:  (404) 244-2431
Number of Students:  28  Number of Districts: DeKalb County

DeKalb College is a two-year, multi-campus college in the University System of Georgia. With four campuses and one center in the Greater Atlanta Metropolitan area, the college has an enrollment of approximately 16,000 credit students. Tutors selected for the America Reads Challenge Program assist kindergarden through third grade students at each of the campus' Partners in Education (PIE) school. Tutors work up to twenty hours per week in the classroom during the school day. Depending on the need that exist at the respective school, tutors work with students either individually or within small groups. Tutors were selected for the program based on major, GPA, and financial need. All tutors selected attended an orientation training and completed a background check necessary to work with minors. Additional training has been held held throughout the year and regular evaluations have been completed as well.

DeKALB TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
President Paul M. Starnes
America Reads Contact: Berman Johnson
Office of Career and Job Search Services
495 N. Indian Creek Drive
Clarkston, GA  30021
E-mail: berman@admin2.dekalb.tec.ga.us
Internet Address: http://www.dekalb.tec.ga.us
Telephone:  (404)297-9522, ext. 1109  Fax:  (404)501-0431
Number of FWS Students:  2   Number of Districts:  DeKalb County School Systems

DeKalb Technical Institute, located in Clarkston, Georgia, a suburb about 15 miles NE of Atlanta, has partnered with DeKalb County Schools, Georgia's largest public school system, to implement the America Reads program. Thus far, three elementary schools have been selected to utilize our tutors. One school is within walking distance from our institute; the other two are within a 5-7 minute drive. The close proximity of these schools enable our students to tutor between classes. Tutors assist children in grades pre-K through the third grade.

All tutors must attend the quarterly Orientation and Training Sessions, as well as, submit to and clear a criminal background check prior to working with the students. Our tutors assist students in several different settings. In a classroom, while a teacher is administering a lesson to an entire class, tutors give individual attention to students who need it. They also provide individual tutoring in the media centers (libraries) during regular class day, as well as, participate in after school programs.

DeVRY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, METRO ATLANTA
President Ronald Bush
America Reads Contact:  Deirdre Plato
250 North Arcadia Avenue
Decatur, GA
Email:  dsealy@admin.atl.devry.edu   Internet Address:  www.atl.devry.edu
Telephone:  (404) 292-7900 ext. 2237  Fax:  (404) 292-8170
Number of FWS Students: 15

The majority of our tutors work at after school programs (tutoring children from ages 6 to 8) at the Boys & Girls Clubs and the Y.M.C.A.  We also have tutors working at a day care facility.

Our Reading Tutors work at day care facilities and after-school programs.  The following is what one of the program directors at a local after-school program had to say about our students' participation in the America Reads Program: "The America Reads Program has been a wonderful source of learning and inspiration to its young students.  The tutor is an excellent role model for the children and has been instrumental in their daily development and ongoing quest to achieve academic excellence. The members look forward to their one on one reading time with the tutor and slowly but surely their level of self-confidence and their competence has increased.  I think the program is of vital importance to those who need it most-the young, new readers."

The response to the program from the agencies has been very positive and the tutors really seem to enjoy what they're doing.  This program offers an excellent opportunity to help our children!

GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY
President Rosemary DePaolo
America Reads Contact:  Hank Griffeth
Campus Box 042
Milledgeville, Georgia
Email:  hgriffe@mail.gac.peachnet.edu
Website:  www.gcsu.edu
Telephone:  (912) 445-5384  Fax:  (912) 445-5818
Number of Students: 30  Number of Districts: 1

Tutors were placed in 5 public elementary schools assisting students in grades K-3.

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
President Betty Siegel
America Reads Contact: cheryl matson
1000 Chastain rd.
Kennesaw, GA
Email:  Cmatson@ksumail.kennesaw.edu  Internet Address: www.kennesaw.edu/financial_aid
Telephone: (770)423-6074 Fax: (770)423-6708

We have just begun the program at our school. The Office of Student Financial Aid, the College of Education, and Volunteer Kennesaw State University collaborated to determine what requirements our tutors should have and to set up the training.

We are placing our tutors in local elementary schools, working with a county Title I Coordinator. The tutors will be working during school hours and in After-School Programs. We are looking into the possibility of working with a local library to place students during summer until June 30, 1998.

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE
President Walter E. Massey
America Reads Contact:  Mr. Kevin Moses/Mr. Orlando Watkins
Office of Community Service
830 Westview Drive, SW
Atlanta, GA  30314
E-mail: owatkins@morehouse.edu or
Telephone:  (404) 215-2724  Fax: (404) 752-9472
Number of FWS students:  50 are anticipated

In response to the America Reads initiative, Morehouse College has created a model reading
tutorial program which will offer community service and service learning opportunities to our
students, staff and faculty, and will also draw in members of the greater Atlanta area community
in a shared effort to work with K-3rd graders who are not reading on grade level. Youth will
receive one-on-one reading tutorials in a team setting.

To give the program stable and consistent foundation, we are utilizing Morehouse's Adams and Bonner Community Scholars as lead support for this initiative. The Program is being led by the Office of Community Service, working closely with the Office of Financial Aid, the English Department, The Metropolitan Atlanta Counsel of the International Reading Association (MACIR) and other existing college student volunteer and mentoring programs.

An innovative component of Morehouse Reads is its "mentor to mentor" program.  Through a relationship with the MACIR, the programs is able to provide each college student team leader with a mentor. These mentors are professional teachers/reading coaches who will provide the program additional materials and will serve as the college students on-going support.

The structure of the program will be central to its effectiveness in recruiting and training tutors, fostering a successful relationship between tutor and child, linking smoothly with the schools, and actually increasing levels of reading skill and comprehension.  We will be developing a structure that fits our college and community. Morehouse College English Department has a well-established collaboration between our teachers preparation programs and our local public schools.  We have engendered sites where the line between public school teacher and university professor has been erased.  It is at these sites that we will place the initial group of students.

UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA
President Sethna
America Reads Contact:  Audrey Baird
226 Parker Hall
Carrollton, GA
Email:  abaird@westga.edu
Internet Address:  www.westga.edu
Telephone:  770-836-6433  Fax:  770-836-6438
Number of FWS Students: 21 Number of Districts: 2

We have 20-22 students working at 2 local schools and at the Federal Housing Authority. The candidates are screened by the local schools as well as the training. Next year we plan to do more training for students so they are more prepared for tutoring. The program has been very successful even though we have scheduling problems and other things!!
 

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