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[CALIFORNIA] Samples of America Reads Challenge National Service Initiatives
ARKANSAS LITERACY COUNCILS, INC.
America Reads Contact: Marie Clinton Bruno
1501 N. University, Suite 430
Little Rock, Arkansas
E-mail: ALCouncil@aol.com
Telephone: (501) 663-4321 Fax: (501) 663-3041
Tutoring: In FY 1997, over 5,800 students were tutored by over 1,500 volunteers, who gave 162,927 hours of instruction and another 87,000 hours in other services to the councils. Our tutors range from all ages - from sixth-graders in peer tutoring programs to those who are retired. The literacy councils train volunteers in a variety of methods, often using Laubach or Literacy Volunteers curriculums as a framework. Depending on the literacy council, services offered include basic reading; English as a Second Language; family literacy/Parents as First Teachers programs; learning disabilities screening, accomodation and referral; and peer tutoring.
Resources: The State of Arkansas provides $500,000 annually specifically for the nonprofit, volunteer literacy effort. The Arkansas Adult Education Section is also the pass-through agency for the federal "Direct & Equitable" funds, of which an average of $700,000 is granted annually to the councils. All local literacy councils work on fundraising/awareness and many businesses are very supportive of their local literacy programs. There are over 40 volunteer trainers in the state, and even more are working as apprentices toward their trainer certification. ALC would be glad to provide more detailed information on our state and local efforts.
Research: ALC's services are continually evaluated by its statewide board of directors; and long-range planning is done through a board retreat every three years or sooner as deemed necessary by the board. Locally, assessment of programs and progress of students is determined in different ways; but, fundamentally, all literacy councils are strongly encouraged to conduct an assessment of the students upon intake for a "base" on which to monitor progress once they begin instruction. Volunteer tutors play a very important role in tracking progress.
Relations: ALC is the structure for all of the literacy councils in Arkansas. We work closely at the state and local level with the Arkansas Adult Education Section/Department of Workforce Education, the Arkansas Division of Volunteerism, the Arkansas Reading Association and many other agencies and organizations who have a key role in literacy efforts.
Comments: On behalf of over 20 literacy councils, ALC applied for a statewide Americorps*VISTA grant for the America Reads Challenge, and are currently waiting to hear the outcome. 38 Americorps*VISTA Members were requested to work in the areas of peer tutoring, family literacy/parenting and English as a Second Language; and also to help schoolteachers by recruiting volunteers in the classroom and establishing a project for special needs children. Overall, we are very excited and anxious to do what we can to see that all of our children - and their parents - are good readers and excited about their education.
SEARK FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM
America Reads Contact: Shirley Martin
1022 Scogin Dr.
Monticello, AR
E-mail: smartin@se.sesc.k12.ar.us
Internet Address:http://se.sesc.k12.ar.us/fgp/index.htm
Telephone: 870-367-6848 Fax: 870-367-9877
Particiption: SEARK Foster Grandparent Program is sponsored by Southeast AR Education Service Cooperative. Foster Grandparent volunteers serve in thirteen school districts in six counties.
Tutoring: One hundred senior volunteers tutor about 400 at-risk children in preschool through 3rd grade. Foster Grandparents serve at the following sites:
ASHLEY COUNTY
Crossett
Hastings Elementary
North Crossett Elementary
Fountain Hill
Fountain Hill Elementary
Hamburg
Noble Elementary
BRADLEY COUNTY
Hermitage
Hermitage Lower Elementary
Warren
Eastside Elementary
CHICOT COUNTY
Dermott
Dermott Lower Elementary
Luther Black ABC Program
Eudora
Busy Bee Preschool
Johns Lower Elementary
Lake Village
Lakeside Elementary
DESHA COUNTY
McGehee
C.B. King Memorial
McGehee Elementary
McGehee/Tillar Preschool
Wolfe Kelly Daycare
Dumas
Central Elementary
DREW COUNTY
Monticello
Drew Central Elementary
Sesame School
W.C. Whaley Elementary
LINCOLN COUNTY
Gould
Gould Elementary
Marsha Loyd/Reading Specialist/Arkansas State Department and Dr. Annette Rawls/Early Childhood Reading Recovery Specialist/SE AR Education Cooperative are training volunteers on reading skills. Mary Crane/McGehee Great Rivers/ VoTech gives 4 hours monthly training on early childhood development and reading skills.
Tutoring occurs under the following guidelines:
1)Four to five children are assigned to each volunteer. 2)Each child is pretested.
3)An individual reading plan is written for each child based on test results. 4)Volunteers work with each child 30 minutes daily. 5)Each child is post tested.
Verbal reports say that children have made very good progress. Post testing will be done in May 1998.
Resources: We are in the process of developing training materials. The project is funded by the Corporation for National Service with inkind match provided by the schools.
Research: Students are pre and post tested using the Observation Survey, a six part literacy survey by Marie Clay. Students will also be tracked through the Stanford Nine Achievement Test.
Relations: Community participants include the Corporation for National Service, Southeast AR Education Cooperative, Arkansas Department of Education,University of AR at Little Rock, University of AR at Monticello, and schools in six counties.
WESARK RSVP
America Reads Contact: Julia K. Bryant, Program Director
401 North 13th Street
Fort Smith, AR 72901
E-mail: westark_rsvp@juno.com
Internet Address: www.wacgc.org
Telephone: (501) 783-4155 Fax: (501)782-2269
Participation: WestArk RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) is a Corp. for Nat'l Service funded program. Our sponsor (60%) is the Western AR Counseling & Guidance Center serving Fort Smith and a 7-county area. We have 1,100 Senior Vols. serving a 2-Co. area (Sebastian and Crawford). We have America Reads Program. with Ft. Smith Public Schools. Currently we are providing Senior Volunteers in six elementary, one junior high and one high school in Fort Smith. At the end of Cal. year '98, we expect to have put in over 5,000 hours of service to this effort and to have affected at least 60-90 students who will then be reading at least at grade level. In addition, as we identify children/families who need English as a Second Language (ESL), we will provide these services also.
Tutoring: WestArk RSVP is initially working with the Fort Smith, AR, Public School System. We currently serve 6 grade school with emphasis on grades K-3, but will also serve any grade/school which requests our services. We will (at year end) have recruited and used at least 60 volunteers (senior and otherwise), so this serves as an inter-generational program also. We place Sr. Vols. with an adult vol. and pair them up in the schools. We tutor one-on-one currently in six elementary schools, one junior high and one senior high school. We have plans to continue some sort of program after school starts and to house each reading/tutoring program at the local nursing homes. We have plans to expand to business and industry this year, but have not yet begun this work. Parents are being utilized according to the US Dept. of Educ.'s literature: Ready-Set-Read and Read-Write-Now.
Resources: Our Program just began a few months ago. Currently we are awaiting notice from our application for funds from the Programs of National Significance Grant. If approved, we could likely be a demonstration site. As yet we have no products to share, but are using those of others. Plans to develop "safe havens" are in the works to coordinate this with nursing homes for a summer program.
Research: Not at this time.
Relations: Local media only. We've just begun.
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