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[MASSACHUSETTS]
Samples of America Reads Challenge Federal Work-Study Programs and National Service Initiatives
FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
President: Dr. Catherine Gira
America Reads Contact: Mrs. Cherie Krug
234 Lane Center
Frostburg, MD
Email: D2PCKRUG@FRA01.FSU.UMD.edu
Website: http://www.fsu.umd.edu
Telephone: 301-687-4210
Fax: 301-687-7049
Number of FWS students: 6
Number of Districts: 1
AmeriCorps*VISTA Members are currently piloting at Frostburg State University (FSU) America Reads Program with the support of Frostburg State University and the Allegany County Board of Education. The program has been implemented in three Elementary schools: Cash Valley School - 1st grade, Northeast Elementary School - 3rd grade, Westernport Elementary - 1st grade. The FSU Financial Aid Department and the FSU Education Department have been instrumental with FWS student and volunteer recruitment. The FSU Education Department provides materials and conducts tutor trainings. Transportation will be offered to tutors eligible to drive University vechiles. Principals, reading specialists, and teachers from the three schools will coordinate on site support for tutors.
The FSU America Reads Program collaborated with the Cumberland housing authority and the
Summer Reading Program was implemented in a community center of a low income housing complex. Over the summer the program was facilitated by the VISTA America Reads coordinators and has now been linked with FSU's Teaching and Learning Community. Eight freshman FSU students are currently providing tutoring for the housing complex. Community businesses and organizations have contributed to the program by donating items to be used as incentives for the children. Overall support and response for FSU's America Reads Program has been overwhelming.
LOYOLA COLLEGE IN MARYLAND
President: Rev. Harold Ridley, SJ
America Reads Contact: John Webster
4501 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD
Email:
webster@loyola.edu
Website:
www.loyola.edu
Telephone:
410-617-2380
Fax: 410-617-2052
Number of FWS Students:
6
Number of Districts:
We currently have six students working with Americorps Team Members in an after school program for 1st graders at an elementary school in Baltimore. We hope to expand to about 25 students at 4 locations this fall.
SALISBURY STATE UNIVERSITY
President: William Merwin
America Reads Contact: John Shortt
1101 Camden Avenue
Salisbury, Maryland
Email: jgshortt@ssu.edu
Telephone:
410-546-6015
Fax: 410-543-6069
Number of Students: 14
Number of Districts: 2
The America Reads project at Salisbury State University provides fourteen tutors to two school districts and two out-of-school programs. Tutors meet once a month for training from our reading specialist and provide feedback about the challenges they face in the classroom. Our reading tutors work with children from grades K through 4. The response from the school districts and our out of school sites has been overwhelmingly positive. We anticipate expanding the project in the coming academic year.
TOWSON UNIVERSITY
President: Hoke Smith
America Reads Contact: Juliana Eagan
8000 York Road
Towson, Maryland 21252-0001
Email: jeagan@towson.edu
URL: http://onestop.towson.edu/finaid
Telephone: 410-830-3890
Fax: 410-830-2584
Number of Students:
Number of Districts:
Towson University's community service placement include the College of Education's Reading Clinic (serving elementary school students) and the St. Ambrose Family Outreach Center (offering programs in developmental reading, math, and adult literacy.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
President: Dr. C. D. Mote
America Reads Contact: Dr. Barbara Jacoby
Advisor to the President for America Reads, 1195 Stamp Student Union
College Park, MD
Email: bjacoby@accmail.umd.edu
Telephone: (301) 314-5274
Fax: (301) 314-9874
Number of FWS Students: 80
Number of Districts: 1
The University of Maryland has entered into a partnership with the Prince George's County Schools to develop the America Reads Corps. The Corps consists of 80 FWS students who serve as Reading Mentors in 9 elementary schools. University and school personnel have worked together on all levels--from the President and Superintendent to teachers and Reading Mentors--from day one to develop a program that meets the needs of all involved.
In addition to being a partnership between the University and the County, the America Reads program represents a campus-wide collaboration of units, including the College of Education and the offices of Student Financial Aid, School-University Relations, and Commuter Affairs and Community Service. The program targets schools with high poverty levels and low reading scores. Reading Mentors work primarily with first and second graders. Reading Mentor training was designed and implemented by faculty in the College of Education together with the Reading Supervisor and reading specialists from the county schools.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY
President:
Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, Ph.D.
America Reads Contact: Melba Ann Fey
UMBC, The Shriver Center
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD
Email: fey@umbc.edu
Telephone: (410) 455-2493
Fax: (410) 455-1074
Number of FWS Students: 10
Number of Districts: 2
The Shriver Center at UMBC coordinates the campus' service-learning program. As part of this program, the Center places Federal Work-Study (FWS) students in service experiences throughout the Baltimore Metropolitan Area, with a focus on tutoring programs for elementary and middle school youth. All FWS students must complete the same requirements as other service-learning students, including establishment of learning objectives, participation in structured reflection, and completion of a reflection journal. Service-learning students complete, on average, forty hours of service per semester. Over half of participating students link their service experience to academic, credited coursework.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE
President: David Ramsay
America Reads Contact: Gillian Wilkins/Cissy VanSickle
621 W. Lombard St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
Email:
gwilkins@gssfa.umaryland.edu
Telephone: 410-706-7347
Fax: 410-706-0824
Number of FWS Students: 30-50
Number of Districts:
The University of Maryland, Baltimore is involved in several America Reads programs. The programs vary from tutoring during school hours, after school tutoring, and a summer camp combining reading instruction throughout the day with recreational activities. Our programs involve elementary school children throughout Baltimore City and County, with a focus on third graders. University of Maryland students are very receptive to the America Reads programs, especially the Summer Kids Camp. Despite a rigorous commitment of 40 hours a week for eight weeks, 28 students finished the program when it was piloted in 1997. There is an even greater response for the upcoming Summer Kids Camp. Americorps vouchers will be an enormously helpful source of additional funding for students. Much of our program's success can be attributed to the University's ability to hire a Work-Study Coordinator who can focus undivided attention on creating partnerships, recruiting tutors and marketing the program to both the university and the community. The university has committed a large portion of its Federal Work-Study allocation to these programs. The university also markets these programs as an alternative to incurring excessive educational debt.
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This page last updated March 29, 2000 (saw).