America Reads, America Counts
The America Reads and America Counts Tutoring program serves to improve reading and math skills of elementary-age students and to promote and sustain college student volunteerism. These goals are achieved by providing local schools with trained college student tutors to work one-on-one with teacher-identified students in an after-school homework club setting. The program seeks to be a community-wide effort by enlisting the support of local teachers, administrators, parents, University of Montana students and faculty, community volunteers, businesses and other organizations.
Following over 1,100 campuses across the United States, the University of Montana in conjunction with the Missoula County Public School District established the America Reads program in 1997 and the America Counts program in 1999. University tutors are recruited and screened by The Office for Civic Engagement on campus. Faculty from UM's School of Education and AmeriCorps members train the tutors before they are placed as reading or math tutors in the District #1 schools.
Last fall, 57 college students (35 volunteers and 22 work-study students) provided 468 elementary students with 2,343 hours of assistance in reading and math. As one teacher commented, "The elementary students enjoy the experience of the program. Students receive valuable one-on-one reading time and individualized support which supports their growth and learning."
Click here for an application to tutor!
For returning tutors, click here for an application.
For more information, please call 243-5531
