Philadelphia University America Reads Program

The America Reads Challenge is a literacy initiative. The goal of America Reads is to rally the previously untapped resources of volunteers to ensure that every child in the nation can read independently by the end of the third grade. Ideally, America Reads literacy programs should combine the resources of the Corporation for National Service and the U.S. Department of Education, the spirit and energy of volunteer tutors, and the expertise of professional educators in order to make literacy a priority in the families and communities of America’s youth.

In 1994, 40% of fourth grade students failed to attain the basic level of reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. In 1998 the National Institute of Family Literacy discovered that 23% of the United States adult population were functionally illiterate. Studies show that student who fail to read well by fourth grade have higher dropout rates and often suffer diminished success in their lives. These statistics justify the need for a national literacy initiative.

The Community Service Office, in conjunction with the Thomas Mifflin School, has organized a program that will enable Philadelphia University students who qualify for Federal Work Study to be paid literacy tutors to students in first, second, and third grades. Tutors will work with Mifflin School students on a one-on-one basis during their session for approximately 30 to 45 minutes per student developing the students’ literacy skills.

America Reads Tutor Job Description

Student’s Responsibilities to the Mifflin School:

• The tutor will be required to attend a tutor-training session administered by the Institute for Service Learning and Global Education to be scheduled during the week of September 18^th through the 22^nd.
• The tutor will be required to schedule regular tutor sessions with a teacher from the Mifflin School during the course of the school day.
• The tutor will complete the agreed upon hours of service per week which will be determined by his or her individual Federal Work Study Award.
• The tutor will schedule with his or her assigned agency so that he or she does not exceed the maximum work-study allowance.
• The tutor will adhere to any dress requirements the agency may maintain.
• A tutor with more than two unexcused absences from a tutoring session will be subject to termination from the program.
• The tutor will give sufficient notice (24 hours) to the agency if he or she will be absent from work or significantly delayed.

Student’s Responsibilities to the Community Service Office:

• The tutor will ensure that his or her timecards are accurate. Tutors will also be responsible for making sure timecards are delivered to the Community Service Office by no later than 4:00 p.m. every other Monday. The Community Service Office will provide a calendar to the tutors that marks what days timecards are required.
• Tutors employed through the Community Service Office will be required attend all meetings scheduled by the Community Service Coordinator. (There is usually only one meeting per semester, but this is subject to change.)
• Tutors will be required to submit any reflection exercises assigned by the Community Service Office.

For further information or clarification please contact Ashley Shoenfelt, Community Service Coordinator, at 215-951-2743 or email at CommunityService@PhilaU.edu

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