The Schools of Hope Project works to eliminate the racial achievement gap in fourth grade reading test scores by recruiting, training and placing community volunteer reading tutors in Madison, Sun Prairie and Verona elementary schools and Madison preschools and community centers. The project also recruits, trains and places community volunteer math volunteers in these area schools.

Description:
The Schools of Hope Project works to make students better readers throughout the Madison Metropolitan, Sun Prairie Area, and Verona Area School Districts. Our goal is to eliminate the racial achievement gap in fourth grade reading test scores. We work with 27 schools to help them place community volunteers with their students. These volunteer tutors work with struggling readers or math students on a one-on-one basis, which results in a great experience for both the tutor and the student.

Currently, we are placing volunteer tutors in the following Elementary schools:

-Allis
-Allied
-Chavez
-Emerson
-Falk
-Glendale
-Hawthorne
-Lake View
-Lapham
-Leopold
-Lincoln
-Lindbergh
-Lowell
-Midvale
-Mendota
-Muir
-Orchard Ridge
-Schenk
-Stephens
-Thoreau
-Wexford
-CH Bird (Sun Prairie)
-Creekside (Sun Prairie)
-Westside (Sun Prairie)
-Country View (Verona)
-Glacier Edge (Verona)
-Stoner Prairie (Verona)
-Sugar Creek (Verona)

History:
The Schools of Hope Project, which began as a partnership between United Way of Dane County, Madison Metropolitan School District and RSVP of Dane County, was conceived in 1995. Its objective was to increase the third grade reading test scores at 21 MMSD schools and to work on closing the racial achievement gap in reading. In order to accomplish this objective, the project focused on two main goals. One, to increase and enhance the use of community literacy tutors. Research shows that children's reading scores improve from more time spent reading one-on-one with adults. It was felt that if the schools could tap into the volunteer energy of Madison, both community members and struggling students could benefit from having a strong literacy tutor program in place. Two, to increase and improve school and family partnerships in literacy. In order to accomplish these goals, the project wrote and received a grant for 21 VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) to act as volunteer coordinators and literacy advocates at local elementary schools. When the federal Corporation for National and Community Service VISTA grant ended in 2004, United Way of Dane County recognized this project as supporting its Community Agenda for Change and provided the necessary funding to continue the project. In 2005, Schools of Hope extended its service to schools in the Sun Prairie Area School District. In 2006, it again expanded its service to schools in the Verona Area School District.

Contact people:

Mariah Flynn, Schools Of Hope Project Assistant, (608) 441-7895, (email) Emily Greene, (email) Karen Dischler, (608) 441-7893, (email)

Address:

P.O. Box 5414 Madison, WI 53705

Web Site: http://www.schoolsofhope.org

Miscellaneous Information

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