During our site visits, we had interviews with principals, <strong>the</strong> site supervisors, teachers, peertutors, community volunteers, <strong>the</strong> key area coordinators, <strong>and</strong> VISTA/Ameri<strong>Corps</strong> members.We also observed tutor sessions <strong>and</strong> reviewed any relevant written materials (tutoring logs,lesson plans, newsletters, local newspaper clippings, <strong>and</strong> so on).8
Liberty ElementaryBackgroundLiberty is in Spangle, a town <strong>of</strong> 250 residents located 30 miles south <strong>of</strong> Spokane. Theelementary school <strong>and</strong> connected junior high sit among wheat fields, next door to <strong>the</strong> highschool. An old liberty bell hangs under <strong>the</strong> school sign, welcoming those who pull into <strong>the</strong> smallcomplex. Students attend <strong>the</strong> school from several surrounding counties, since <strong>the</strong> districtincorporates several rural towns <strong>and</strong> some growing suburban areas <strong>of</strong> Spokane. Ninety-ninepercent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> students ride a bus to school, with some having a bus ride <strong>of</strong> more than an hourone way.Thirty-three percent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> students at Liberty qualify for free or reduced meals. Of <strong>the</strong> 270students in <strong>the</strong> elementary school, about 50 are in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Washington</strong> <strong>Reading</strong> <strong>Corps</strong>. While all K-6 grades are served, most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> students receiving WRC services are in first or second grade.These students are described as “borderline”—not quite qualifying for Title 1 <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r specialprograms, but in need <strong>of</strong> some assistance.The motivation for applying for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Reading</strong> <strong>Corps</strong> grant was described by <strong>the</strong> principal as aneed to push <strong>and</strong> reach <strong>the</strong> borderline kids in order to boost <strong>the</strong>m to success. Test scores hadbeen low for several years, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> school had been looking for opportunities to increase <strong>the</strong>m.WRC funds were used to purchase a reading curriculum.Program LogisticsPatti Khusro, <strong>the</strong> Ameri<strong>Corps</strong> member at <strong>the</strong> school, works with teachers, communitymembers, <strong>and</strong> cross-age tutors. Liberty is serving approximately 50 <strong>Reading</strong> <strong>Corps</strong> studentsthis year. Twenty-five percent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se WRC students were in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Reading</strong> <strong>Corps</strong> last year. Theo<strong>the</strong>r 75 percent from last year did so well that <strong>the</strong>y no longer need <strong>the</strong> WRC.Teachers initially refer students to <strong>the</strong> WRC <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>se students are <strong>the</strong>n tested using <strong>the</strong> WRCstatewide tests (CBM <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Slosson), administered by <strong>the</strong> Ameri<strong>Corps</strong> member. The readingspecialist also gives <strong>the</strong> WRC students a classroom test three times a year.Students are tutored 2-3 times each week for 30 minutes. Teachers decide <strong>the</strong> best time forstudents to leave <strong>the</strong> class. Often this is during <strong>Reading</strong>, as <strong>the</strong> students are not up to level with<strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> class instruction, or sometimes it is during P.E. There has been some fluctuation in<strong>the</strong> tutors, but Patti works <strong>the</strong> schedule to ensure that <strong>the</strong> students continue to receive one-ononeassistance.Students in <strong>the</strong> WRC received permission from <strong>the</strong>ir parents to participate. A few parentsdenied permission at first but <strong>the</strong>n changed <strong>the</strong>ir mind <strong>and</strong> agreed once <strong>the</strong> program was fur<strong>the</strong>rexplained. Teachers at <strong>the</strong> school have observed that parents <strong>of</strong> WRC students are starting to9
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