America Reads
The ASU America Reads Program partners with local schools and community centers to offer tutoring, mentoring, and academic skill building services to children living in low income areas or attending Title 1 schools. Children are matched with an ASU student as their tutor or mentor.
Tutoring Program
Kindergarten through eighth-grade children receive one-on-one tutoring with an ASU student who is responsible for assisting that child with homework and reading skills as well as facilitating interactive educational activities that correspond to the Common Core Standards in reading, writing and math.
Girls or Boys Mentoring Programs
This service is for children in 6th-8th grade, living in low income areas, and attending Title 1 Schools. Children work with an ASU student-mentor one-on-one as well as within a larger peer group focusing on life skills such as time management, positive decision making, self-esteem, body image, and job skills. Homework and other academic skills are also addressed as necessary.
Employment Opportunity
ASU students eligible for Federal Work Study funds may apply for a paid America Reads tutor/mentor position.
Additional Information
ASU Students | Community Partnership | Sponsors/Sites/Impact
Federal Work-Study Students:
- Both graduate & undergraduate students are eligible
- No experience necessary — training provided
- Transportation from Tempe campus available
- Afternoon shifts available, Mon-Fri
- Morning shifts available during summer
America Reads tutors may also
earn a $1,175 AmeriCorps Education Award!
You must first be hired through America Reads. Once hired, you must attend an Orientation Session, participate in a mandatory AmeriCorps meeting once each semester, and work a minimum of 300 hours (approximately 2 semesters) in one calendar year in order to be eligible.
To learn more, email teacherscollegeamericorps@asu.edu.
IF YOU DO NOT QUALIFY for federal work-study or if the shifts don't fit your schedule, you may tutor and mentor children or provide another type of community service while earning 3-credits (General Studies: C & L) by enrolling in a University Service Learning course:
USL 210 | USL 216 | USL 402 | USL 410.
America Reads is a federal work-study program in which college students tutor and mentor academically at-risk children one-on-one at local community centers and schools. The term "at-risk" describes children who live in low-income areas and are more likely to drop out of high school. Tutors work with children in grades K – 8 and create fun, hands-on activities that meet the academic needs of the individual child and assist with homework, reading, and journal-writing.
Earn $9.00/hour — available only to federal work-study students (see details below).
If you do not qualify for work study, you can earn 3-credits while tutoring/mentoring children or performing other community service by enrolling in a Service Learning course.
How to Apply
- Check My ASU and verify you are eligible for at least $936 federal work-study funds.
- You must complete a financial aid application (FAFSA) for the applicable award year.
- To qualify for federal work-study you must be enrolled at least half-time (2 credits for Summer) at ASU during the semester for which you are applying for work and demonstrate financial need. If you qualify for financial aid, it is likely that you are eligible for federal work-study.
- If you have a FAFSA on file and have not been awarded federal work-study funds, but think you may be eligible, contact the Student Employment Office (480-965-5186 or seo@asu.edu) and ask to be considered for work-study.
- You must be eligible for a minimum of $936 federal work-study funds in order to qualify for an America Reads position.
- Verify that your schedule allows you to work one of the available shifts. You must be available for the specific hours listed, as well as the specific day combinations (MW or TTH or MTWTH). SHIFT OPTIONS: Spring/Fall | Summer
- Submit an application ONLY if both of the following are true:
- YOU DO QUALIFY (and only if you know you qualify) for at least $936 work-study funds and
- you can work at least one of the specific listed shifts (Spring/Fall | Summer)
If both of the above are true, submit the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM to request an interview.
QUESTIONS? Contact AmericaReads@asu.edu or 480-965-2259.
ASU America Reads programs:
- are funded through a cost share between ASU and the
partnering school, school district, or community center - are offered for 14 weeks in Fall and Spring, 8-10 weeks
in Summer - are made available for students 2-4 days a week
- serve 24-60 children at each site
- include individualized curricula based upon academic
skill level and grade level state academic standards - are assessed through pre/post testing in reading,
writing, math and qualitative
Cost Share Information
| ASU America Reads Costs | Partnering School/Organization Costs |
|---|---|
|
|
Your cost share is contingent upon logistical details (program format and size, fingerprinting, transportation needs, etc) to be determined at a later point. The approximate cost for partners are as follows:
| Program Format: | 2 day/week program | 3 day/week program | 4 day/week program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cost - Fall & Spring only | $14,000 - $18,000 | $17,000 - $23,000 | $26,000 - $40,500 |
| Total Cost - Fall, Spring & Summer | $18,000 - $21,200 | $20,200 - $26,200 | $29,200 - $43,800 |
| Total Cost - Summer only | N/A* | N/A* | $3,240 |
| *Summer programs always run 4 days/week because Summer is a shortened semester (8 or 10 weeks). | |||
TO EXPRESS INTEREST IN PARTNERSHIP please submit an Interest Form.
QUESTIONS? Please contact AmericaReads@asu.edu or 480-727-6382.
Many thanks to our major donors!
Your generosity helps us reach more children in need and is very much appreciated!
Invest in the future.
Make an ONLINE GIFT
to University Service Learning.
Sponsors & Locations
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale
- Hartley and Ruth Barker Branch
- Scottsdale Paiute Neighborhood Center
Communities in Schools in partnership with
Valley of the Sun United Way
- Maie Bartlett Heard Elementary School
- Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School
Salt River Community Children's Foundation in partnership with
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale
- Lehi Branch
- Red Mountain Branch
Salvation Army Phoenix Citadel Corp in partnership with
Kenilworth Elementary School and
Phoenix Elementary School District
- Salvation Army Phoenix Citadel Corp
Salvation Army Phoenix South Mountain Kroc Center in partnership
with the Armstrong Family Foundation
- Salvation Army Phoenix South Mountain Kroc Center
2011 / 2012 IMPACT
In the 2011/12 academic year, the America Reads Program served a total of 450 children at seven locations. These students achieved proficiency in an astonishing 3,185 academic standards. Below is a list of areas of instruction and a breakdown of the number of standards in which the students achieved proficiency.
1,238 goals achieved in READING and READING COMPREHENSION
- 1,025 in reading process
- 114 in comprehending informational text
- 99 in comprehending literary texts
1,290 goals achieved in WRITING
- 567 in the writing process
- 580 in writing elements
- 143 in writing applications
657 goals achieved in MATHEMATICS
- 458 in numbers and operations
- 50 in patterns, probability, algebra and functions
- 149 in geometry and measurements
