English
French
German
Portuguese
Spanish
How does Education Connection select students?Amy Wilke2020-11-08T05:10:43-06:00
School Coordinators work closely with teachers, instructional staff and principal to identify high needs students.
Who can volunteer as a Literacy Partner?Amy Wilke2020-11-08T05:10:31-06:00
Anyone who can read. The only requirements are they must be at least 18 years old, be cleared by district(s) background check, complete Education Connection training, and commit to at least 30 minutes a week to read with students.
What experience is required?Amy Wilke2020-11-08T05:10:19-06:00
No prior experience is required, just the ability to read.
How to register to be a volunteer?Amy Wilke2021-08-02T12:43:22-05:00
Education Connection volunteer registration for 2021-22 is open, please complete this form HERE.
I am not a native English speaker. Can I still volunteer?Amy Wilke2020-11-08T05:10:09-06:00
Yes! However, we do require that you be fluent in English in order to best serve our students. Some schools may request native Spanish or other language speakers to read with students. We have training materials in Spanish.
I’ve already gotten a background check done in the past. Will I need to get another one?Amy Wilke2020-11-23T15:14:33-06:00
Yes, district specific background checks are required each year. No fingerprints are needed to complete the application.
How long does it take to get paired with a student?Amy Wilke2020-11-08T05:09:05-06:00
Your start date for reading can take several days to several weeks, depending on a variety of scheduling factors such as training, background check completion, school schedules and student assessment data. Our goal, however, is to match you with a student as quickly as possible.
What if I can’t make it to my scheduled volunteering time?Amy Wilke2020-11-23T15:15:53-06:00
Consistency is important with your students, and we understand that everyone has busy schedules. Let your teacher know ahead of time by email so that they can inform the student and if possible, try to reschedule to another day that week.
Do I have any choice in the age or gender of student I work with?Amy Wilke2020-11-09T15:43:52-06:00
We match students based on school priority and schedule. Your School and Literacy Partner Coordinators are always available to answer questions and work with you to make sure that you are paired well and feel confident as a volunteer.
What kind of training will I receive?Amy Wilke2021-08-23T15:28:14-05:00
Each year volunteers will attend training to learn more about Education Connection’s mission, model, strategies and FERPA (Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act) training. Typically, trainings are available at the beginning of each school year and take approximately one to two hours. Recorded training is available to those who are unable to attend live training. Online training involves watching a video and answering a few questions.
What is the minimum time requirement to be a volunteer?Amy Wilke2021-08-23T15:23:08-05:00
We ask that volunteers commit to at least 30 minutes per week.
It’s already the middle of the semester – can I still volunteer?Amy Wilke2020-11-09T15:45:45-06:00
Volunteers can register on a rolling basis through mid-February each school year. You can get started anytime during the the registration window.
Will I keep my assigned student for the entire school year?Amy Wilke2020-11-09T15:46:42-06:00