The Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC) recently raised $25,000 to provide and expand its one-on-one reading tutoring program in Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS).
ATC will be tutoring 170 kindergarten and first graders this year in nine Alexandria City Public Schools. The non-profit group uses a curriculum created by the University of Virginia Curry School of Education, which calls for trained community volunteers to tutor a student one-on-one for 60 or more minutes a week, from now through May 2019. The program is run in each school by a reading specialist or trained educational professional.
How the Tutoring Program Works
ATC works with each school administration to select the students for the program. Students are pulled out during class twice weekly for tutoring. The ATC staff member writes lesson plans for each student’s session and is responsible for monitoring student progress and making adjustments in the lesson plans as needed.
ATC recorded a highly successful 2017-2018 school year. More than 80 percent of the students in its program were reading on grade level by the end of the year.
ATC is introducing a new program this year at Ramsay Elementary, Kindergarten Book Buddies, which incorporates the same curriculum style used for first graders but is designed for kindergartners. The new program is being funded by a three-year grant from the Alexandria Fund for Human Services of the City of Alexandria.
Due to its continued success, ATC has been asked to consider expanding to more ACPS elementary schools next year. Funds are needed to pay for the part-time ATC staff and necessary program supplies.
Thanks to Sponsors and Participants
Seventeen local sponsors signed on to support the non-profit’s BarkinthePark18, the second annual Dog Walk for Literacy, held 2- 4 p.m. Sunday, October 21 at Ben Brenman Park.
Dogs, Owners and Sponsors Made it Happen
Dogs and their owners participated in one and five-kilometer walks, agility courses, pet portraits, live music provided by DJ David Thorpe, and raffle prizes and treats.
The $25k came directly from sponsors’ contributions and individual registration fees. Sponsors for the event included: Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, Megan and Don Beyer, Dogtopia, David and Stephanie Thorpe Homes, BMW of Alexandria, Diann Hicks Carlson of Weichert Old Town, Olde Towne School for Dogs, The LizLuke Team, Kidsave, Frolick Dogs Canine Sports Club, Old Town Sport&Health, Trader Joe’s, The Wharf, Hooray for Books!, Diversions Cards & Gifts, Alexandria Library’s Paws to Read, People Animals Love, and the Northern Virginia Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club.
The event also had the help of TV/Media Production students at T.C. Williams High School.
