Evaluation of Experience Corps Student Reading Outcomes

Abstract

A Mathematica team led by Emily Dwoyer, Kathy Sonnenfeld, and Susan Sprachman provided the data collection services for this study of the Experience Corps (EC) initiative, a program that brings older adults ages 55 and up into public elementary schools to tutor and mentor children who are at risk of academic failure. EC members also help teachers in the classroom and lead after-school enrichment activities. The findings presented in this report demonstrate that students who received EC program tutoring and mentorship showed significant improvements in their reading and comprehension skills and, at the same time, the program was also found to be a low burden to teachers.