Young people in foster care often fall behind academically, and many will not graduate high school. Afterschool Allies works to break this cycle at an early age. Serving grades K-5, this innovative program provides one-on-one tutoring to children in foster care with The Foundling, helping them bolster their literacy skills and build a foundation for scholastic success.
Tutors in our Afterschool Allies program meet weekly with each student to improve academic skills across all subjects, focusing on supplementing in-school instruction and bridging any learning gaps that may have resulted from the student’s transition into care. Research has shown that reading levels in the elementary grades are strongly predictive of academic outcomes in middle school, high school, and college – so the program takes a particular focus on ensuring childhood literacy. Upon intake, students are given a reading assessment, and those that require additional intervention receive a supplemental weekly session with intensive literacy instruction. Tutors receive specialized training in Precision Teaching – a goal-oriented model proven to drastically increase reading fluency and literacy – to get students reading on grade level and providing them with the tools to succeed.
