Q: What is the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC)?
A: ATC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that recruits and trains volunteers to teach reading to kindergarten, first grade and second grade public school students who need extra help with reading. ATC’s goal is to ensure that all its students meet grade level reading expectations by the end of the year. In recruiting tutors and raising funds, ATC partners with the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), local businesses and community organizations, and Alexandria’s faith community. Volunteers receive training and weekly lesson plans, and tutor one or two 30- to 45-minute sessions a week during regular school hours. Tutors report a high level of satisfaction with their tutoring and are proud to be working one-on-one to teach a child to read.
Q: What kind of tutoring does ATC provide?
A: ATC’s “Book Buddies” is a structured, peer-reviewed tutoring program developed at the University of Virginia’s School of Education. Students are selected for the program by their classroom teachers. ATC’s staff of professional educators coordinates all aspects of the program, including training tutors and providing them with lesson plans, books and materials tailored to each student’s reading needs. Tutors receive training before they start tutoring and periodic refresher training throughout the school year.
Q: How is ATC funded?
ATC is funded by a wide variety of donors, including businesses, foundations, and individuals. It takes approximately $1,350 per year to teach one child and we would love your help. You can donate here.
Q: How do I apply to become a tutor?
A: Prospective tutors can click here to fill out a registration form. Volunteers also must complete an ACPS Volunteer Application, which initiates a background check [#3 select All Elementary Schools, #4 select Tutor (Reading), and #5 type in ATC]. Once that check is completed, the volunteer is ready for training and assignment to a school. Tutoring begins in late October and concludes in late May, in keeping with the school calendar. Most volunteers tutor for 30-45 minutes twice each week, but some tutor once a week, partnering with a colleague who tutors the second session. On occasions when volunteers are unable to tutor, a colleague tutors for them. Tutoring occurs in the child’s school building between 8:00 a.m. and 2:25 p.m.
Q: How can I tell if I am helping my student?
A: Each school has a trained reading professional (the “Coordinator”) who oversees the tutoring program. The Coordinator writes lesson plans, maintains a dialogue with tutors on how each child is doing, and shares the results of periodic testing that identify areas where the child needs help. Progress can be seen as children read texts with increasingly complex words. Tutors are a key part of the team contributing to the students’ achievement.
Q: Which schools are served?
A: For the 2023-2024 school year, ATC is providing one-on-one reading tutoring for students at every public elementary school in Alexandria!
Kindergarten programs: Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology and William Ramsay Elementary
First grade programs: Naomi Brooks Elementary, Jefferson Houston K-8 IB School, Mount Vernon Community School, Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology, George Mason Elementary, Samuel Tucker Elementary, Charles Barrett Elementary, William Ramsay Elementary, John Adams Elementary, Ferdinand Day Elementary, James K. Polk Elementary and Patrick Henry Elementary
Second grade programs: Jefferson-Houston K-8 IB School, Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology, and Douglas MacArthur Elementary
Q: How can I help?
A: Volunteer here! And donate here! For questions or help, please contact Lisa Jacobs, ATC’s Executive Director, at ljacobs@alexandriatutors.org or (703) 549-6670, ext.119.
Alexandria Tutoring Consortium 