1,400 Tutors Needed for 2016-17 School Year

MINNEAPOLIS, MN--(Marketwired - May 2, 2016) - Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps announced that they are seeking approximately 1,400 literacy and math tutors for the 2016-2017 school year. Literacy and math tutor positions are open at schools throughout Minnesota.

According to Executive Director Sheila Piippo, both full- and part-time tutor positions are available at approximately 700 Minnesota Reading Corps and 200 Minnesota Math Corps schools. Full-time tutors commit to 11 months of service, during which they earn $544 every two weeks and an education award of up to $5,775. Full-time tutors may also receive health insurance. Part-time tutors earn $272 every two weeks and an education award of up to $2,887.

Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps are statewide initiatives designed to help every Minnesota student become a successful reader by the end of third grade, and proficient in math by the end of eighth grade. By serving with Reading Corps or Math Corps, individuals join a network of more than 1,400 tutors working with more than 35,000 students throughout the state. 

Both programs have been highly successful in closing the achievement gap. A rigorous study by NORC at the University of Chicago showed that Reading Corps students, including those with higher risk factors such as low-income or English Language Learner status, outperformed their peers. PreK children with Reading Corps surpassed their peers on all five early literacy measures, demonstrating their readiness for Kindergarten.

Last year, 71% of Math Corps students maintained or improved their progress toward proficiency as measured by the state's MCA exam. More than a quarter of students (28%) -- and nearly one-third of fourth graders (31%) -- demonstrated a high level of growth, changing their trajectory toward failure into a steep climb toward proficiency.

All tutors are fully trained by Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps. Candidates come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from recent high school graduates to retirees. Mid-career individuals considering a professional change are also excellent candidates, Piippo noted. To learn more or to appy to serve as a tutor, visit www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org or www.MinnesotaMathCorps.org, or call 866-859-2825.

About Minnesota Reading Corps
Minnesota Reading Corps is a statewide literacy initiative of ServeMinnesota with the goal of helping every Minnesota child prepare for Kindergarten and become a successful reader by the end of third grade. The program blends the people power of AmeriCorps members with the science of how children learn to read. Trained AmeriCorps members provide individualized tutoring and proven interventions to those children who are at risk for not reading at grade level. For more information, please visit www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org.

About Minnesota Math Corps
Minnesota Math Corps, a strategic initiative of ServeMinnesota, is a statewide program to help ensure all Minnesota children become proficient in math by the end of eighth grade. With 42 percent of Minnesota eighth graders failing to meet algebra requirements, Math Corps places trained AmeriCorps tutors in schools to work with 4^th through 8^th graders who need extra support to catch up to their peers. These tutors provide research-based interventions and practice directly to students. For more information, please visit www.MinnesotaMathCorps.org.