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I work full time. When do volunteers read with students?Amy Wilke2022-11-28T17:28:40-06:00
Volunteers read with students during school days and hours. On your application, you can choose a 30 minute slot anytime between 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM, Monday – Friday.
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 do I register to be a volunteer?Amy Wilke2022-11-28T17:51:44-06:00
To register to become an Education Connection volunteer, please click HERE and follow the prompts on the “Register to Volunteer” button.
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 completed a background check in the past. Will I need to complete another one?Amy Wilke2022-11-28T17:44:24-06:00
Yes. District specific background checks are required each year. No fingerprints are needed to complete the application.
How long does it take to be paired with a student?Amy Wilke2022-11-28T17:35:47-06:00
Your reading start date 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 Wilke2022-11-28T17:29:09-06:00
You can register to volunteer anytime during the registration window that is listed on the front page of the website.
Will I keep my assigned student for the entire school year?Amy Wilke2020-11-09T15:46:42-06:00