CalSERVES Literacy Tutoring programs utilize 125 AmeriCorps members matched with struggling elementary students to provide high-quality reading tutoring. Through this intensive, one-on-one program, CalSERVES strengthens the reading ability of 400 Santa Rosa students from kindergarten through sixth grade who have not yet mastered the reading skills appropriate to their grade level.  Students in this program are reading at levels, which are years below their actual grade level.  In addition to fostering the academic growth of students, the program also nurtures strong mentoring relationships between tutors and tutees.  When students are matched with an AmeriCorps tutor, they remain with that same tutor for the entire school year.

AmeriCorps tutors work with each student for 40 minutes per lesson, 4 days per week, following a structured lesson plan designed to develop reading and writing skills and to encourage a life-long love of reading.  Children are assessed regularly to inform and individualize instruction and gauge progress.  AmeriCorps tutors use assessment data and teacher input to create lessons that target the specific needs of their students.  Through the dedication of these AmeriCorps members, these struggling readers are progressing, with 65% showing improvement of one grade level in language arts on the California Standards Test.  Teachers see the impact of the tutoring program on their students every day with 85% reporting improvements in reading ability and attentiveness in class.

CalSERVES is committed to ensuring that the tutoring provided is high quality from the very beginning.  Tutors go through a comprehensive training series before they are matched with students.  They learn not only how to use the research-based curricula that CalSERVES implements, but also how students learn to read.  Tutors with CalSERVES have a more complete understanding of how to teach struggling readers to read.  In addition to the training series at the start of the year, AmeriCorps Leaders at each site provide daily support through observations, lesson plan review, and additional training.

The CalSERVES Literacy Tutoring program is a great program, serving students that desperately need additional academic support.  Students in the program receive high quality literacy tutoring, with lessons that are targeted to their specific needs.  With the dedication and hard work of its AmeriCorps members and program staff, it does make a different.