SCHOOL-BASED Positions: Members provide focused academic assistance, one-on-one/small group instruction, RTI Model, Credit Recovery, Title 1 remediation and support, Standardized Test Preparation, STEM activities, and progress monitoring. Services take place in before, during, and after-school programming in a public or private school settings.
COMMUNITY-BASED (Non-Profit) Positions: Members provide academic support services, mentoring, STEM activities and service learning in alternative education, early childhood, and/or after-school programs.
Service Activities
Provide homework help and study skills instruction for students through before and after school programs which meet a minimum of 3 days a week for 30 minutes. Monitor students weekly by checking with teachers for outstanding assignments and upcoming exams.
Increase the capacity of the school to provided targeted, one-on-one and small group instruction in math and/or literacy for students who are not grade-level proficient. Students will receive at least 90 minutes of instruction per week.
Utilize the Response to Intervention Model to assess at-risk students and provide research based literacy and math interventions not currently available for at least 90 minutes per week.
Provide and support Credit Recovery opportunities for students who are at risk for retention or drop out to meet promotion or graduation requirements. Identified students will receive at least 90 minutes of service per week.
Utilize a combination of interventions provided by the school staff to deliver individualized remediation and support to struggling students identified by Title 1 or Special Education assessments/screenings in Reading and/or Mathematics. Remediation will total at least 90 minutes per week.
Deliver targeted Standardized Test preparation and remediation to students whose PSSA and Keystone Exam performance indicates a lack of proficiency. Sessions will be provided 3-5 times a week for 30-60 minutes per session.
Provide intensive progress monitoring to help inform and refine instruction and intervention for students who fail to meet proficiency benchmarks in curriculum based assessments or standardized tests.
Utilize the curriculum based instruction STEM to educate students in four individual disciplines -science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as integrated projects to be used to support both the academic standards and/or the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Standards.
Increase the capacity of the school to provided targeted, one-on-one and small group instruction in math and/or literacy for students who are not grade-level proficient.
Utilize the Response to Intervention Model to assess at-risk students and provide research based literacy and math interventions not currently available.
Provide and support Credit Recovery opportunities for students who are at risk for retention or drop out to meet promotion or graduation requirements.
Utilize a combination of interventions provided by the school staff to deliver individualized remediation and support to struggling students identified by Title 1 or Special Education assessments/screenings in Reading and/or Mathematics.
Provide social and emotional skills development activities, such as goal setting, conflict resolution, stress or anger management to students identified by teachers, parents, school administrators, school counselors, IEP's and 504 Plans and / or juvenile justice system as at-risk for suspension, expulsion, or adjudication.
Utilize the curriculum based instruction STEM to educate students in four individual disciplines -science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as integrated projects to be used to support both the academic standards and/or the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Standards.
Community Need Addressed
On Pennsylvania State Standard Assessments, an average 67% of students in the counties served by KSA scored below proficient levels in Math versus a state average of 58%. In Language Arts, 36% of the same student group averaged below proficient, versus a state average of 30%. In the School District Performance Profiles (SPP) released in October 2016, the school districts served by KSA averaged a 69% Building Level Academic Score. This score represents buildings' overall rating in relation to student performance as calculated by the PA Department of Education. Despite the academic needs demonstrated by these sub par scores, a study conducted by the Center for Rural PA found that 91% of rural superintendents cited academic support programs as an essential element of meeting student needs in their districts, only 18% of all eligible students received academic support. Keystone SMILES AmeriCorps strives to stand in this gap, providing rural schools and students with expanded learning activities to address the academic needs created by the poverty the live in.
Position Outcomes
Students will demonstrate improved academic performance in literacy and/or math as measured by pre/post standardized test and/or improved academic engagement as measured by pre/post rubrics.
Members will administer a pre/post rubric upon a student's enrollment in an education program and again upon his/her program completion. A gain of at least 1 level on a 6 point scale in 2 categories is required to meet the target's standard of improvement.
Members will utilize 4Sight, DIBELS, Fountas and Pinnell (FnP), Study Island, STAR, CDT, and Aimsweb scores to evaluate changes academic performance. One year's growth in either Math or Reading will be the expected level of improvement, based on the standard set by the pre/post test instrument employed.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Members will receive Act 48 Credits up to 95 in a Full Year Term
Members serving in a Full Time Education Award Position will be eligible for their service to count towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Education Benefits
GED/High School Diploma
First Aid, CPR, CERT Certificates
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, 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
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand
Planning
Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, 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