AmeriCorps Polk Reads is a reading tutoring program for struggling kindergarten – third grade readers at select schools in Polk County. Our sites for the 2025-2026 school year are Crystal Lake Elementary, Eagle Lake Elementary, Eastside Elementary, Elbert Elementary, Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. Elementary, Lena Vista Elementary, Padgett Elementary, Philip O’Brien Elementary, Sikes Elementary, and Sleepy Hill Elementary.
This year our program has 45+ AmeriCorps Polk Read members that are serving at the above schools in teams of 3-5. At these schools, the members provide (3) 30-minute, one-on-one tutoring sessions per week to students who are behind in reading. These sessions target the five components of effective reading instruction (phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency and reading comprehension strategies) and work to move students up in their reading levels.
AmeriCorps Polk Reads served over 424 students this year with 84% (356 students) making significant reading gains. This program generated over 35,000 hours of member service in our schools and community which if paid for by parents or schools for private tutoring would be a cost of over $1,000,000 annually. All of this is made possible through a partnership between the Polk Education Foundation, Polk County Public Schools, and Volunteer Florida, Inc., as well as local support from George W. Jenkins Fund within the GiveWell Community Foundation, Suncoast Credit Union, and corporate and individual donors.
AmeriCorps members receive a living wage stipend for their service along with a potential educational award annually if their commitment of hours is completed in their term. Members can serve up to four terms. If you are interested in more information, please contact [email protected]