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The Schools of Hope Project is a unique collaboration of the United Way of Dane County, RSVP of Dane County and the Madison Metropolitan School District. Its mission is to work with school staff to increase the academic performance of students of color and those from low-income families.
Led by a team of AmeriCorps members based in elementary schools, volunteer tutors are matched with children in need of additional help with reading and math. The Project currently serves students in the Madison, Sun Prairie and Verona school districts, working closely with school staff to deliver high-quality academic support.
There are several components to the Schools of Hope Project:
- Trained one-on-one volunteer tutors for selected elementary students
- Support for MMSD’s summer K-Ready students through placement of AmeriCorps members in classrooms
- Collaboration with after-school programs
- Coordination of Reading Buddies programs in neighborhood centers
- SPARC (School, Parents And Reading Connection) themed backpacks for students to check out and use at home with their families
- Learning Kits containing books and activities for students to keep at home, including bilingual books and activities
- Literacy Bags filled with sets of books and activities for volunteers to use with students
- Family literacy resources
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Each year Schools of Hope serves about 30 elementary schools and several after-school community programs. Over 700 volunteers help about 5000 children in literacy and math. The project also collects and distributes over 7500 books to low-income students annually. Additionally, over 400 distributions of SPARC bags are made in the course of a year.
For more information about Schools of Hope, please go to the following website at: www.schoolsofhope.org.
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