Financial Assistance
America Reads / America Counts
On August 28, 1996, former President Bill Clinton announced the America Reads Challenge.
America Reads calls upon all citizens to support teachers and to help ensure that every American child can read well and independently by the end of the third grade. Research shows that children who cannot read well and independently by the end of the third grade are less likely to succeed in school and more likely drop out.
But, research also shows that well-designed tutoring programs that supplement in-class reading instruction result in improved reading and, ultimately, in more students finishing high school.
On November 12, 1998, former Vice President Al Gore unveiled the America Counts Challenge, an initiative to help all students master challenging mathematics, including the foundations of algebra and geometry, by the end of the eighth grade. The national mobilization of tutors will build upon the success of the America Reads Challenge initiative.
The America Reads Challenge is designed to use college students as reading tutors for elementary school children who are not reading at grade level.
The America Reads Challenge needs you to work with elementary school children who need extra help to read well in the classroom. The America Counts Challenge needs you to give assistance to students who need help mastering the fundamentals of mathematics in elementary and middle school.
America Reads and America Counts even allow for the use of Federal Work-Study funds to pay college students for time spent tutoring elementary and middle school children!
This academic year will mark the third year of the America Reads program here at Pepperdine.
As such, we are looking for students to get involved in a project which would allow them to:
- Earn up to $10 per hour for the time spent in tutoring and traveling to tutoring assignments
- Get involved in the lives of children
- Help touch the future of this country
- Add to their resumes their involvement in this nationally recognized public service
To be eligible to participate in the America Reads program, you must:
- Be interested in children and in improving their lives
- Be consistent and responsible
- Be willing to commit approximately 6 hours per week
- Be a Federal Work-Study recipient
- Be able to provide or arrange for transportation to schools in surrounding areas
- No prior experience or training is needed!
If you want to participate in the America Reads Challenge, training sessions will be provided which will teach you how to tutor. Since all America Reads tutors will attend these training sessions, students from all majors are welcome (even those who do not plan to teach after college).
The Pepperdine Volunteer Center will be coordinating the tutor training sessions and will work to assign America Reads tutors to schools in the area.
Please join us in improving the lives of America's children. Simply contact the Teacher Education Department to receive information about this exciting opportunity soon!
Pepperdine University
Volunteer Center
America Reads Challenge
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263-4143
Phone: 310-506-4143
Sign up to be an America Reads tutor today!
