ASU Literacy Center needs more tutors
According to a recent study by the Governor’s Task Force, one of every three adults in Georgia has problems with literacy. Statistics like this make the services of the ASU Literacy Center even more valuable. The center provides literacy tutoring for 1,000 people each month. Without enough tutors, though, the center cannot adequately serve them.
“We’re just touching the tip of the iceberg, even with this large number. The waiting list for the Literacy Center is completely closed right now,” says Dr. Paulette Harris, Cree-Walker Professor of Education and director of the center.
The ideal ratio of tutors to students is one-to-one, but right now the Literacy Center is operating at a ratio of one tutor to every three-and-a-half students, she says. Higher tutor-to-student ratios decrease the program’s effectiveness. Without enough help, the waiting list will remain closed, and hundreds of people in the community could be turned away.
Volunteers are needed. Students, faculty, staff, residents of the community—anyone can help. Course credit and federal work study funds may also be available for student volunteers. For more information about tutoring at the ASU Literacy Center, call 737-7043.
Literacy Center will open new satellite center at East Augusta Middle School
Thanks to a 21st Century Learning grant to a local middle school, the ASU Literacy Center will be able to help more area adults learn to read. The Literacy Center, in cooperation with East Augusta Middle School, will institute its second satellite center at the school within a few months.
The newest center will be closely modeled after the existing one in McDuffie County at Norris Elementary School. That center offers literacy tutoring strictly to adults, unlike the original center on Magnolia Drive that tutors adults and children. ASU’s role in the process will be one of support, says Dr. Paulette Harris, Cree-Walker Professor of Education and director of the Literacy Center.
“We’re there to help them get started,” she says. “We’ll tell them what kind of materials to order and train the volunteers.”
Planning is still in the early stages, but Dr. Harris hopes that the new center will be as productive as the McDuffie County site has been.
“They’ve had great success with that program,” she says. “The mayor comes in to tutor, the superintendent, all kinds of people. And that’s just been by word of mouth.”
The East Augusta center will primarily serve parents of students at the school, but it will provide help to any adult with literacy problems. For more information about the Literacy Center, call 733-7043.
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