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

Appendix G
Obtain Qualified Staff

Staffing arrangements vary according to a program's size, management structure, and goals. But all programs need staff who are qualified and committed, have appropriate experience and realistic expectations, and can interact productively with regular school staff.

Staff for after-school or summer learning, drug prevention, and safety programs can come from the school, a partner agency, or the community. Paid professionals and student teachers can be supplemented with volunteers, parents, AmeriCorps participants, federal Work Study students and other volunteers from local colleges or universities, community members, and business representatives.

To help staff coordinate their efforts, experienced program leaders:

• invite key stakeholders to participate in interviewing and hiring;

• select staff carefully, based on their motivation and commitment, experience, knowledge of the community, ability to adapt to change, and sense of accountability (conduct background checks, as appropriate);

• define staff roles and responsibilities clearly;

• provide orientation to new goals, practices, and systems;

• provide on-going staff training; and

• foster a team spirit.

Federal College Work Study and the America Reads Challenge President Clinton announced the America Reads Challenge proposal to ensure that every American child can read well and independently by the end of 3rd grade. If Congress enacts legislation, thirty thousand reading specialists and coordinators will train and recruit 1 million tutors nationwide. These tutors, working with school reading teachers and principals, will provide individualized after-school, weekend, and summer reading tutoring for more than 3 million children a year in grades K-3 who want and need the extra help. President Clinton has also recently called for half of all new federal work study funds to support community service, including 100,000 work study slots for reading tutors (waiving the school match for these slots), thereby providing a unique opportunity for college students to be involved in helping children learn to read.

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[Appendix F: Consider Logistical Issues: How to Go from Design to Implementation]

[Appendix H: The Evaluation Process]