English
French
German
Portuguese
Spanish
How does Education Connection select students?Amy Feser2020-11-08T05:10:43-06:00
School Coordinators work closely with teachers, instructional staff and principal to identify high needs students.
Who can volunteer as a Literacy Partner?Amy Feser2020-11-08T05:10:31-06:00
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 Feser2020-11-08T05:10:19-06:00
No prior experience is required, just the ability to read.
How to register to be a volunteer?Amy Feser2020-12-11T12:15:44-06:00
Education Connection volunteer registration for 2020-21 is open, please complete this form HERE and well follow up on the next steps for registration.
I am not a native English speaker. Can I still volunteer?Amy Feser2020-11-08T05:10:09-06:00
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 Feser2020-11-23T15:14:33-06:00
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 Feser2020-11-08T05:09:05-06:00
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 Feser2020-11-23T15:15:53-06:00
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 Feser2020-11-09T15:43:52-06:00
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 Feser2020-11-23T15:19:22-06:00
Each year volunteers will attend in-person or online training to learn more about Education Connection’s mission, model, and strategies. Volunteers are also required to attend FERPA (Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act) training and sign the Volunteer Safety and Commitment Pledge each school year. Typically, live trainings are available at the beginning of each school year and take approximately one to two hours. Online training is available to those who are unable to attend live training. Online training involves watching a video and possibly downloading training materials.
What is the minimum time requirement to be a volunteer?Amy Feser2020-11-08T05:05:47-06:00
We ask that volunteers commit to at least thirty minutes per week.
It’s already the middle of the semester – can I still volunteer?Amy Feser2020-11-09T15:45:45-06:00
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 Feser2020-11-09T15:46:42-06:00