Starting in the 2026–27 school year, the Madison Metropolitan School District and United Way of Dane County are transitioning from their long-standing Elementary Schools of Hope and high school Achievement Connections tutoring programs due to reduced federal support, with student support continuing by other means.

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About

Led by a team of AmeriCorps members based in elementary schools, volunteer tutors are matched with children in need of additional help with reading.  AmeriCorps members are responsible for the recruitment, screening, placement, orientation, training, support, evaluation and recognition of a diverse pool of community volunteers in addition to being literacy tutors themselves.  The Project works closely with school staff to deliver high-quality academic support.

There are several components to the Schools of Hope Project:

  • Trained 1:1 to 1:3 volunteer tutors for elementary students identified by teaching staff
  • Ongoing tutor training sessions and resources provided by school district professionals
  • Tutoring sessions guided by materials provided by the classroom teacher
  • Support for school-based family literacy programs

In 2014-15 Schools of Hope served 39 elementary schools and one after-school community program.  Nearly 700 volunteers tutored over 2100 elementary children in literacy and math.  Additionally, our joint team of full- and part-time AmeriCorps members served as classroom assistants in the Madison School District’s summer school program.  The Project also distributed almost 7500 books to low-income students to help them build home libraries.