Transcript Slide 1
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
The following is a presentation prepared for ILASFAA’s 2008 Conference in Springfield, IL April 16-18, 2008
America Reads/America Counts at the University of Illinois
America Reads/America Counts at the University of Illinois: A National Best Practice in FWS Tutoring Programs Dan Mann
Director of Financial Aid University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Angie Brix
Student Financial Aid Administrator America Reads/America Counts Coordinator April 16-18, 2008
Session Overview
• Program History • Program Overview and Organization • Federal Work-Study • Program Structure and Operations • Program Challenges/Sustainability
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Program History
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Program History
• In 1996, President Clinton issued a challenge to have 100,000 Federal Work-Study students serve as reading tutors for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. This launched the America Reads program, a literacy initiative to help children gain the ability to read independently and on grade level by the end of third grade.
• In Fall 1997, the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign answered the America Reads challenge by starting one of the first programs in the country.
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Program History
• In 1999 the program expanded to include America Counts, a mathematics initiative to increase the mathematical achievements of students from kindergarten through ninth grade. • In Fall 1999, the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign began participation in the America Counts program.
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Program History
• The federal regulations now include tutoring as Family Literacy Programs and have expanded to include pre-kindergarten populations.
• Schools must use at least 7% of their FWS allocation for community service activities and have at least one reading tutoring program or family literacy project.
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Program History
• The University of Illinois decided that all undergraduate students could participate as America Reads/America Counts tutors.
• The University also decided that this program should be coordinated in the Office of Student Financial Aid, as opposed to the College of Education or another department.
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Program Overview and Organization
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Organizational Chart
Office of Student Financial Aid America Reads/America Counts Advisory Committee School District Coordinators School Principals / Site Liaisons Teachers / Site Staff Graduate Coordinators Tutors
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Office of Student Financial Aid
• • Oversees the day-to-day operation of the program.
• Identifies and awards Federal Work-Study (FWS) funds to eligible students.
• Recruits tutors and Graduate Coordinators.
• Coordinates orientation/training for tutors and Graduate Coordinators.
• Convenes monthly meetings of the AR/AC Advisory Committee.
Processes payroll through Student Employment Office.
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
•
AR/AC Advisory Committee
• Committee consists of the following members: – Office of Student Financial Aid • Director • Assistant Director, Student Employment • America Reads/America Counts Program Coordinator – College of Education • Faculty Member • Academic Advisor – School District Coordinators • Champaign Unit #4 Director of Curriculum & Instruction • Urbana Unit #116 Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction Meets monthly to plan, review, and discuss issues related to personnel, policies and
April 16-18, 2008
School District Coordinators
• • Coordinate and oversee program for participating schools in district.
• Inform building principals and teachers about the program.
• Serve on advisory committee.
• Coordinate and pay for state criminal background checks of tutors and Graduate Coordinators. • Place tutors for district.
Pay 25% of Graduate Coordinators’ FWS earnings.
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
School Principals/Site Liaisons
• Inform teachers and parents about the program.
• Coordinate identification of children in need of service.
• Supervise Graduate Coordinators.
• Identify work areas and procure resources for tutors.
• Facilitate communication between teachers, students, Graduate Coordinators, and tutors.
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Teachers
• Identify children in need of service.
• Work with tutors on how best to serve individual children.
• Provide needed supplies and materials.
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Graduate Coordinators (GC’s)
• Serve as liaison between tutors, teachers, principals/site liaisons, the districts and OSFA.
• Supervise tutors at respective sites.
• Develop tutoring schedules.
• Responsible for tutor timesheets.
• Tutor children, as time permits.
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Tutors
• Attend orientation and agree to a background check. • Attend mandatory General Information Session and an America Reads and America Counts training session. • Provide regular tutoring for children.
• Communicate regularly with site contact/teachers and appropriate Graduate Coordinator.
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Federal Work-Study at the University of Illinois in Urbana
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Federal Work-Study
• Annual FWS Allocation $2.1 million – On-Campus Student Employment – On-Campus FWS-Graduate Assistantships – America Reads/America Counts – Off-Campus Community Service • University of Illinois does not participate in the Job Location and Development (JLD) program.
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Federal Work-Study Pay Rates
• Tutors - $8.50/hr – 100% paid by FWS • Graduate Coordinators - $13.50/hr – 75% paid by FWS – 25% paid by School District
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Federal Work-Study Community Service
2006-2007 Community Service Total America Reads/America Counts Total Other Community Service Total Community Service Activities $517,609 $ 96,555 $614,164 24% of FWS funds were spent on Community Service activities in 2006-2007.
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Program Structure & Operations
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
• Staff • Facilities • Budget • Support • Collaboration
Resources
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Program Structure for Tutors
New Tutors
• Recruitment • Orientation Session • Training • • • Placement • Orientation/Contract • Scheduling Support Evaluation
Returning Tutors
• Contract • Scheduling • Support • Evaluation • Recognition
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Program Structure for Graduate Coordinators
• Recruitment/Hiring • Training • Evaluation • Support/Communication
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Program Statistics 2006-2007 Academic Year
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Program Statistics
• During the 2006-2007 academic year we had 407 tutors work with the program.
• 30 graduate students served as Graduate Coordinators.
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Tutor Gender
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Tutor Ethnicity
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Tutor Major
Com m unications
2.9%
Engine e ring Fine & Applie d Arts
3.1% 4.2%
Agr, Cons um e r, & Env Ins titute of Aviation
0.3%
Scie nce s Bus ine s s
4.2% 6.0%
Education
6.3%
Applie d Life Studie s
8.1%
Libe ral Arts & Scie nce s
64.9% Liberal Arts & Sciences
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Program Challenges/Sustainability ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Continuing Challenges
• Reduction in FWS Funding • FWS Awarding Policy • Graduate Coordinators • Tutors • Communication/Coordination (Off-campus employees)
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Keys for Continued Success
• • Build strong relationships with Tutoring Partners (district level, site liaisons, community organizations) • Graduate Coordinators (or Lead Tutor) • Tutor Accountability • Designated Program Coordinator at the University Level • Database System Continuous Improvement Model
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Questions
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008
Dan Mann
Director, Office of Student Financial Aid University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Angie Brix
Student Financial Aid Administrator America Reads/America Counts, Program Coordinator University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
ILASFAA Annual Conference April 16-18, 2008