What is the K-12 Adult Volunteer Initiative?

The initiative is a statewide system to recruit, train, and place adults in Arizona classrooms as volunteer academic tutors, classroom or activity assistants, and mentors.

What is the history of the K-12 Adult Volunteer Initiative?

The initiative is one of superintendent Tom Horne's 2005 initiatives, as outlined in this January 2005 State of Education Speech.

How will the K-12 Adult Volunteer Initiative work?

The Arizona Department of Education's Learn and Serve program is in the process of establishing a state-wide partnership with organizations that will help link senior Arizonans with classroom across the state. The intent of the system is to make it easier for school districts to link with these partnerships and bring adult volunteers in to the classroom to address an identified need in the school. The need can be individual academic tutoring, mentoring, classroom assistance, or any other identified area where assistance is needed.

Who are the partnering organizations?

Current organizations partnering with this initiative are:

AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) 
AARTA (All Arizona Retired Teachers Association) 
Arizona Community Foundation 
Big Brothers, Big Sisters 
Communities in Schools 
HOPE Volunteer Center 
Korean War Veterans 
Masons Paradise Valley Silver Trowel Lodge No. 29 
The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons 
National Service SaYES (Seniors Assisting Youth Engaged in Service) 
OASIS (Older Adult Service and Information Systems) 
Reading Seeds 
RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) 
Senior Corp 
SGIG in Arizona 
Tuba City Volunteers 
Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona 
Youth Counts 
Arizona National Service Inclusion Project
Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism
CNCS State Office
Ameri Corp
Senior Corp
RSVP

What are the resources?

Partnering organizations will aid in recruiting and linking the adult volunteers with identified schools and classrooms. The Arizona Department of Education through the Learn and Serve America program will provide at least three training's and resource materials for the adult volunteer programs. The Learn and Serve program will also provide "seed money" to at least fifteen schools through a competitive grant process over the next three years.

Have model programs been established?

• Through the Learn and Serve America program the Arizona Department of Education currently sponsors eleven adult volunteer programs in the state. Model programs have been established that can be replicated and revised to meet the needs in classrooms. Examples of this model are:

 

• Esperanza Elementary School, Esperanza Community Builders Program
• PAVE (Parents and Volunteers Educate) The Way to Student Success provides parents and volunteers the necessary training, workshops and tools necessary to provide all children with assistance in all academic areas.
• By providing adult training in literacy, via technology, we assist parents and volunteers to become a productive part in the school community. This has increased attendance at Family literacy nights and other PTSA events with parent and volunteer supports strengthening and enhancing the learning process for everyone.
• This program was recognized by the Deer Valley School District for a Superintendent’s Program of Excellence Award under school community relations for the 2005-2006 school year.
• Community Partnerships and Sponsorships: USSA (Government Insurance), Universal Technical Institute (Technical Training) (Tina Miller Steinke), Reading First with First National Bank, Jr. Achievement

 

• Madison Heights Elementary, Mentoring Minds
• Mentoring Minds helps young struggling students improve their language arts skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) by providing weekly tutoring support by a trained volunteer. This extra literacy support will help close the achievement gap between all students.
• The adults in this program model how each citizen has a civic duty to improve the community and country.
• The focus of our program is to utilize and share our human resources (life experiences and knowledge) with young learners to make a stronger community. When all our citizens feel successful and empowered by skills and knowledge, the community is a safer, happier and more productive place to live.
• Community Partnerships and Sponsorships: All Star Kids Tutoring, OASIS, Jewish Federation, The Terraces, Book PALS,

 

• Desert Valley Elementary, T.H.R.I.L.L. Seekers: To Help Readers Is to Love Life
• The THRILL Seeker Adult Volunteer Program provides opportunities for adults to make a difference and to be actively servicing their community by mentoring and tutoring at-risk students in reading to increases student achievement in our community.
• The program began eight years ago, and it has been a part of the Desert Valley Community for the past four years.  During that time the data collected has continued to support what the research says about quality tutorial efforts within a school environment.  A quality tutorial program that is focused in its efforts and that has a clear vision and plan of implementation does make a difference in student achievement.  
• Community Partnerships and Sponsorships: Glendale Fire Department, Glendale Police Department, Desert Valley PTSA, Country Inn and Buffet