America Reads Mississippi

AmeriCorps Program

Impacting Literacy, Student Academic Performance, and

Community Service

Center for Community & Economic Development

Tutors With A Mission

ARM and AmeriCorps • Funded by the Corporation for National and

Community Service (CNCS) • Directed by the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer

Service (MCVS) • Issue Area = Education • 350 ARM members with 75,000 AmeriCorps

members nationwide meeting community needs

Tutors With A Mission

America Reads Mississippi is dedicated to improving the reading skills of students, encouraging public awareness and support of literacy, and helping to increase the number of certified teachers in Mississippi.

America Reads Mississippi

AmeriCorps Program

Impact on Literacy

• Largest literacy-related AmeriCorps

program of its kind in the nation

• Average of 3,500 students

(10/member) tutored full-time, each

day in reading in 74 schools

• ARM tutored students improved by

at least one reading grade level per

year of tutoring as reported by

classroom teachers

Impact on Students

• 96% of tutored students improved

their behavior, attitude towards

school, and homework

• Improved home/school connection

• ARM members role model the value

of education

• Youth engaged in service-learning

- Less likely to drop out of school - Less likely to commit a crime

- More likely to pursue higher education - More likely to value service and community

Impact on Higher Education

• Classroom experience

• Use of technology (on-line

timesheet and reporting)

• Leadership training and field

experiences

• Future Teacher Corps

• Team Leaders Corps

Impact on Community

ARM Service Strengthens Communities

• Most members live in the communities

where they serve.

• Members recruit local citizens, parents,

and elected officials as volunteers.

• Members involve students in caring for

their communities and teach service as

a way of life.

STUDENTS SERVING STUDENTS LEARNING STUDENTS READING

Impact on Mississippi

TUTORING STUDENTS MEMBER TRAINING SERVICE PROJECTS

ARM Members in Action

Community and Educational Partnerships