Reading Programs

Experience Corps

In 2011, The Foundation supported Experience Corps Literacy Program. Operated in partnership with the Community Service Society of New York (CSS), Experience Corps has dramatically enhanced the lives of thousands of NYC public school children and older adults by uniting racially diverse older adult volunteers, a network of public schools, and a research-based approach to help children at risk. CSS extensively trains these volunteers, who work in teams of 10-15, to intervene and assist students become independent readers by Grade 3.

Experience Corps' intergenerational model produces tangible outcomes and benefits for volunteers, students, and communities. As neighborhood residents, Experience Corps volunteers have a personal stake in their communities. They are committed to ensuring "their" children receive the extra help needed to stay on track--for school and for life. They find there is a exponential pool of volunteers offering significant personal contributions to children, schools, and neighborhoods throughout New York City. The unique approach to literacy issues has strengthened local communities as older adult volunteers empower Experience Corps students to become a generation of well-educated, productive citizens who will benefit NYC's future.

With over 16 years of success, Experience Corps has proven to be an effective intervention for low-performing schools throughout NYC. A recent evaluation has revealed that the students who worked with Experience Corps tutors for a school year experienced over 60% greater gains in two critical literacy skills--sounding out new words and reading comprehension--than non-participants. The value of Experience Corps is further demonstrated by the schools' willingness to dedicate scarce classroom space to the program.

Reading Partners

In 2011, the Foundation provided a first time grant to Reading Partners, a successful program that helps children become lifelong readers through individualized instruction that demands measurable results with the hope that one day all children will have the reading skills to reach their full potential. Our grant supported their current programming and funded expansion of the program to five new school sites in the 2012-13 school year.

At each school site, Reading Partners transforms a dedicated space into a reading center and recruits a corps of 40-100 community volunteers who work one-on-one with K-5 students who have fallen behind in reading. These volunteers pull students out of class and work with them twice weekly for 45-minute sessions of tutoring, utilizing a structured and research-validated curriculum developed in partnership with the Stanford University School of Education. Students are then evaluated throughout the year to guide subsequent instruction and to monitor progress towards pre-established achievement goals. With close oversight and assistance from senior staff, a trained AmeriCorps member is stationed at each site to provide daily guidance to volunteers and liaise with teachers.

Reading Partners complements in-school tutoring with home involvement strategies like the Take Reading Home program, which provides free age and skill appropriate reading materials for students to start home libraries. During the 2010-11 school year, over 20,000 books were distributed for this purpose. In addition, periodic Home Connections events engage parents to celebrate the progress students make. Last year 80% of parents participated in these events.