By Request.... | October 1996

Farmway Village, a housing development in Caldwell, Idaho, comprised mainly of Hispanic agricultural workers, is the site of an extensive after-school tutoring program for the community's youth. The program serves children from seven different schools who range in age from five to 18 in the community center at Farmway Village. The young people tap into the tutoring services provided primarily by a network of retired teachers, as well as other adults. The tutors help nearly 60 kids a day with questions and needs relating to homework. The program is coordinated by the district assistant superintendent and a certified teacher who supervises the center each day from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Both are also present every evening to provide community adults with English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.

Since there is no prescribed format for the tutoring sessions, students can guide the direction of instruction based upon their needs. Most tutees are limited-English speakers, and are grateful for the extra one-on-one assistance the program provides.

Observed Outcomes

Parents feel more comfortable and connected to the school system.

Students participating in the programs feel better about school and themselves.

The positive attributes of the program create ripple effects for the entire community.

Keys To Success

Be attentive to the needs of the community you serve. Be flexible and willing to branch out with new programs and services.
Be consistently available at the times the community needs.
Be understanding and empathetic to students' experiences and circumstances.

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Date of Last Update: 09/19/2001
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