The Experience Corps (EC) program brings older adults aged 55+ into public elementary schools to tutor and mentor children who are at risk of academic failure. The EC program began in 1995 in five cities and has grown to include 23 sites. Older adults are recruited to serve in this program and receive training to prepare them for their service assignments, focused on literacy and relationship-building. Each Experience Corps volunteer, or “member,” is assigned as part of a team to a local elementary school participating in the program. At the beginning of the school year, teachers refer low-achieving students to the program; and EC members begin regular tutoring with the children. A two group, pre-post test design with random assignment was used to assess the effects of the EC program.
Citation
Morrow-Howell, N., Jonson-Reid, M., McCrary, S., Lee, Y., & Spitznagel, E. (2009). Evaluation of Experience Corps: Student reading outcomes (CSD Research Report No. 09-01). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.