Program Descriptions
If you are interested in how some of our current AmericaReads/AmericaCounts
partners are contributing to the greater Austin community, please explore the
descriptions and web sites below.
Americorps for Community Engagement in Education
AISD Community Education
AVID
People's Community Clinic
Austin/Travis County Community Health Centers
River City Youth
AmeriCorps for Community Engagement
in Education (ACEE) is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested
in working with elementary-age children. This early literacy tutoring program
helps young children build strong foundations in reading and writing. Tutors
provide one-on-one, intensive tutoring to struggling readers in pre-K through
first grade. Tutors also support the classroom teacher's reading program by
working with small groups, helping at centers and reading aloud to children.
AmeriCorps for Community Engagement in Education is a partnership with the
Texas Education Agency, the Austin Independent School District, the UT
Charles A. Dana Center and the UT-Austin Work-Study Office.
Tutors with AISD
Community Education provide elementary and middle school students with additional
support in reading and/or math under the supervision of a certified teacher.
AVID (Advancement Via Individual
Determination) is a national and international program that supports
high school and middle school students--who are often the first in their
families to aspire to receive a college education--to reach that goal
through a daily elective called AVID. The week is made up of two curriculum
days, two days for tutorials, and one motivational day. Students are
prepared to succeed in a rigorous curriculum of honors and Advanced
Placement courses that will prepare them to compete with students across
the nation for admission to the university of their choice.
Tutors are essential to the success of AVID students. Two full periods a
week are dedicated to group tutorials led by trained college tutors.
Tutors are trained in AVID methodologies and questioning skills in order
to facilitate tutorial groups. Tutors become part of the AVID family,
and are often invited on study trips. College students are also needed
to share their experiences with students so that they will get a sense
of the rigor and possibilities of college life.
People's Community Clinic (PCC) is
a unique community asset. Founded in 1970 by a group of volunteer
doctors and nurses, PCC has become Austin's largest comprehensive
primary health care center serving the uninsured working poor. All
services are offered on a sliding scale basis.
PCC hosts a Reach Out and Read program.
Tutors (or "Book Buddies") with PCC will assist the project coordinator
in implementing a pediatric family literacy program by reading with
children and families, distributing information to parents about how
to raise a reader and providing age/language- appropriate books to children.
The Austin/Travis County Community Health Centers administers a
Reach
Out and Read (ROR) program at their Northeast Austin Community Health Center.
Reach Out and Read was established in 1999 as the result of First Lady Laura Bush's
Early Childhood Initiative for Texas.
The mission of Reach Out and Read is to improve early literacy in Texas
children by making early literacy a standard part of pediatric primary
healthcare. ROR-TX plans to expand this early literacy program by adding
20 new Reach Out and Read clinic sites each year, with a goal of reaching
one million children in Texas by 2005.
Tutors in this program read with parents and children, as well as
select books for young children and supply the waiting room with books.
The mission of River
City Youth Foundation is to increase the number of Dove Springs youth who practice
safe, healthy and positive lifestyles, including being college and career bound, so they
can achieve their highest potential in education, personal and social responsibility.
Tutors with the River City Youth Foundation will work at their southeast Austin location,
tutoring students in kindergarten through 9th grade in math.
