ReInvent Schools Las Vegas AmeriCorps Program focuses on increasing attendance and literacy rates through Success Mentors and Literacy Tutors. Members will serve at one of 13 elementary or middle schools in the downtown Las Vegas urban core supporting those students most in need.
Service Activities
Success Mentors will be matched with students that have been identified by school leadership as needing support to be successful in school, and they will assist students to improve their attendance, behavior, and course performance. Members will empower at-risk students to see their potential by providing consistent and ongoing mentoring. Members will also support students by providing one-on-one literacy enrichment. Supporting students’ needs both one-on-one and in small groups considerably increases their school attendance, behavior and course performance and thereby improves their chances of successful high school graduation.
Literacy Tutors will help children to read at or above grade level by the end of the third grade. Members will provide literacy enrichment activities to students identified as being at the greatest risk for reading failure. Members will ensure that each student receives 30 minute literacy tutoring sessions a minimum of two times per week. Members will work with teachers and school staff to create and facilitate academic events and learning activities, and provide one-on-one or small group literacy tutoring before, during and after school.
Community Need Addressed
Several factors impact academic outcomes, but poverty is a common denominator of below grade-level literacy rates, and is on the rise in Nevada, especially within Las Vegas' downtown urban core. Chronic absenteeism, as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Education as missing 10% or more of school for any reason, is an obstacle for students living in poverty due to parents' work schedules, health and transportation barriers. Chronic absence in kindergarten trends to lower literacy levels in 1st grade, and lower achievement as far out as 5th grade. Chronically-absent kindergarten students, when compared to kindergarten students who attended regularly, (1) scored 20% lower in math and reading in later grades, and the achievement gap continued to grow, (2) were twice as likely to be retained and/or suspended by the end of the 7th grade, continuing the trend of being chronically absent.
Nevada's education system consistently lags behind the nation, ranking 49th in the nation and the 2015 Nation's Report Card shows the average reading proficiency score of Nevada 4th-grade students' was 214, while the national average score was 221. As a result of our state's failing education record, Governor Sandoval initiated an aggressive education reform platform in 2015 to improve student academic outcomes. Nevada Legislators passed Senate Bill 491 "Read by Three" to improve K-3 grade student literacy, requiring all Nevada districts to provide intensive instruction to students identified as deficient in reading. Several factors impact academic outcomes, but poverty is a common denominator of below grade-level literacy rates, and is on the rise in Nevada, especially within Las Vegas' downtown urban core.
Position Outcomes
Students will demonstrate a positive and significant change in behaviors as evidenced by increased attendance.
Students that were at least one year behind and that participated in STAR Reading program demonstrate improved academic performance in literacy.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
College Degree
Skills you will gain
While the majority of service hours are completed onsite during school hours, members will engage in additional professional and community development meetings and/or projects, which may take place during evening or weekend hours.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment