A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

U.S. Department of Education Federal Work-Study Updates

FEDERAL WORK-STUDY UPDATE

November 2, 1997

A MESSAGE FROM DIRECTOR CAROL H. RASCO

This past Saturday marked Family Literacy Day, a time when Americans celebrated the work being done by thousands of people to help Americans family members - adults and children - learn how to read. Because you are so directly involved with students who are directly contributing to improving the reading skills of our nation's children, I want to encourage you to take a moment to thank them by writing them a letter or posting a sign that says "Thank You." I know that some campuses are planning exciting student recognition/celebration events. Do share with us what you are doing along the lines of THANK YOU events. And finally, thank YOU for your work in this area of literacy.

UPDATE ON AMERICA READS CHALLENGE LEGISLATION

We continue to work with the Committee for Education and the Workforce to develop a bi-partisan agreement on children's literacy. A vote on the Reading Excellence Act is anticipated for the week of November 3rd, but no final date has been set.

For an overview of the Reading Excellence Act, please refer to the October 23rd Update, or visit the website at www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/legislation.html

FEDERAL WORK-STUDY MEETING THE CHALLENGE

October 21st was a banner day for the Federal Work-Study program. Fifteen college and university presidents representing the more than 800 institutions signed on to the America Reads Challenge were hosted by President Clinton and Secretary Riley in the East Room of the White House. Press coverage was outstanding as newspapers across the country picked up the story over the wires, spreading the news about the benefits of the program. And speaking of benefits, a new publication -- Samples of Federal Work-Study and National Service Initiative Programs -- will serve as a good resource for you to learn about what other FW-S programs are doing to meet the America Reads Challenge. The publication cites one FW-S program and one National Service program from each state, and will be available on the America Reads Challenge web site at www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/arc-fwsi.html in approximately two weeks.

Now, a look at three universities providing federal work-study tutoring opportunities for their students:

From Postmarks, a campus publication mailed to the parents of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana undergraduate students, the following..."More than 250 University of Illinois undergraduates have answered the call of their president to wage war. Their weapons are books and pencils. The enemy is illiteracy; the front lines; Champaign elementary schools." University federal work-study students are partnering with students in 17 schools; graduate students serve as coordinators. A noted plus is that many of the undergraduate students are fluent in languages other than English, a situation that is creating strong partnerships and role modeling opportunities for children whose first language is not English. Students were recruited at an America Reads Information Fair in September, with some 300 applying for the open positions. For more information, ocntact Orlo Austin, Director of Student Financial Aid, (217) 244-2024; FAX (217) 244-6589; or e-mail o-austin@uiuc.edu.

The University of Minnesota has developed a coordinated approach using community-based non-profit service agencies and schools that includes federal work-study students tutoring at 13 libraries, 14 recreation centers, elementary schools and at other after-school community organizations. The Alumni Association is recruiting members for training and placement as tutors, or to work with parents of students, and the Minnesota Literacy Council is developing a corps of adults who will be trained through the University to provide parents of children in the program with supportive literacy techniques. VISTA, RSVP and AmeriCorps members will provide additional supportive services.

Harvard University is utilizing both FW-S and non-FW-S students in its tutoring efforts this fall. To date, they have trained 236 student tutors, 74 of whom are FW-S students, and they have a waiting list of additional students ready to sign on. Both graduate and undergraduate students are working in 15 elementary schools in addition to Head Start programs in Cambridge. Many of the students have been placed through community partnerships including the House and Neighborhood Development (HAND) Program and Harvard Emerging Literacy Project (HELP). Phillips Brooks House Association, Inc., is supporting training costs and the purchase of curriculum materials through FAS Administrative Allowance funds provided under the FW-S program.

TUTOR TRAINING PUBLICATIONS

In our efforts to keep you posted on potential reference materials for your programs, you may wish to review "Case Studies in Teaching Beginning Readers: The Howard Street Tutoring Manual" by Darrell Morris. Mr. Morris is the Director of the Reading Clinic and Professor of Education at Applachian State University in Boon, North Carolina. The publication is available from Fieldstream Publications, 395 Fieldstream Drive, Boone, NC 28607. The book describes how to start one-to-one tutoring programs for struggling primary-grade readers, and includes information on how to start a program, how to supervise the work of the volunteer tutors, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of the tutoring effort.

FINANCIAL AID TELECONFERENCE

On Monday, November 10th at 8:00 p.m. EST, Secretary of Education Richard Riley and top experts in financial aid will present the latest information on federal student aid via a live, interactive satellite teleconference. To date, nearly 400 sites have signed up to broadcast the teleconference. The Secretary will take phone calls and answer questions sent in via fax during the program.

Topics include:

  • How to obtain and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the document that determines eligibility for about 70 percent of Federal financial assistance;
  • An overview of the major student financial assistance programs that are available at most schools including Federal Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, PLUS Loan, Consolidation Loans, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs), Federal Work-Study, and Federal Perkins Loans;
  • Information on the most recent changes to the tax law, from tax cuts to savings incentives, that benefit students and their families;
  • How the AmeriCorps program provides full-time education al awards in return for work in community service; and
  • Ideas for obtaining scholarships from companies, community organizations, and other sources.

This event is free and offers financial aid administrators the opportunity to invite high school students and their parents, counselors, organizations that offer scholarships and other community organizations to gather in one place to learn about all aspects of financial aid. For more information or to register to host a site, call 1-800-USA-LEARN.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FW-S AND THE AMERICA READS CHALLENGE, CONTACT US AT:

The America Reads Challenge
600 Independence Ave., SW, Room 6123, Washington, DC 20202
(202) 401-8888
(202) 401-0596 (fax)
e-mail via Internet at HREF="mailto:America.Reads.Challenge@ed.gov">America.Reads.Challenge@ed.gov
Toll free number for comments or ordering publications:
1-800-USA-LEARN or TDD 1-800-437-0833

Web site: www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/

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