The DeKalb County Human Services Department is recruiting volunteers to participate in its tutoring program to help DeKalb students improve their reading skills.
Volunteer tutors are needed now to begin tutoring in January 2022, according to a county statement.
The AARP Experience Corps is an evidence-based literacy program to help improve the reading skills of children in kindergarten through the third grade.
On this initiative, the department is working with the United Way of Greater Atlanta, the AARP Foundation and the DeKalb County School District.
Recent data shows that DeKalb students, on average, have a reading proficiency of 26%, meaning that 74% of students are reading below grade level.
This tutoring program achieves reading proficiency results by focusing on students who are one to two grades behind in their reading grade level.
The Experience Corps Program, a national program that also has produced positive mental and physical health benefits for the older adult volunteers, is designed to be implemented by volunteers who are 50 years old and older.
To participate, volunteers must have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
Even though the tutoring program began last month, more volunteers are needed.
The program follows the school district’s calendar through May 2022.
Tutoring sessions will be online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Participating DeKalb elementary schools include Stoneview, Pine Ridge, Murphy Candler, E.L. Miller and Redan.
To learn more about the program, contact Human Services Administrator Debra Furtado by email at dlfurtado@dekalbcountyga.gov or complete an online application at UnitedWayAtlanta.org/aarp-volunteer-application.
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