AmeriCorps

Porterville Unified School District is thrilled to introduce the Building Community, Changing Lives AmeriCorps Program to our city. This program brings full-time tutors/mentors to each of our 10 elementary schools, supporting our students in Small Group Reading Intervention and social-emotional development. Additionally, the Building Community, Changing Lives AmeriCorps program is overseen by California Volunteers and sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

AmeriCorps National Website

Our Mission

The mission of the Building Community, Changing Lives (BCCL) program is to serve as a valuable resource for our 3rd-5th grade students, empowering them to achieve their academic and social-emotional goals. By addressing both the academic challenges and underlying social-emotional learning needs. Through our program, we strive to equip and encourage students to thrive, providing opportunities for both students and AmeriCorps members to achieve successful outcomes now and in the future.

Who We Serve

Our team of 85 dedicated AmeriCorps members will deliver evidence-based academic intervention and mentoring services to a total of 1,657 students across our district's 10 elementary sites. These students are currently performing below proficiency standards on district benchmarks in grades 3-5, as measured by the STAR reading assessments. These assessments are directly correlated to the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), ensuring that our interventions target areas critical for academic improvement and success.

Building Community, Changing Lives

Our program carefully selects, trains, and places 85 AmeriCorps members in our 10 local elementary schools to provide invaluable tutoring and mentoring to our students. Each member commits to completing 1200 hours of service over a ten-month period. AmeriCorps members play a vital role in supporting classroom teachers throughout the day, offering targeted tutoring to students in small groups. In return for their dedicated service, members have the opportunity to further develop skills relevant to education services, establish meaningful relationships with teachers and administrators who can serve as mentors, and make a profound impact in the lives of the students they support. Furthermore, members receive a monthly living allowance and become eligible for an education award upon completion of their service, making this a rewarding opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Critical Need

In our district, we have a total of 2,317 3rd-5th grade students, with 1,657 of them identified as needing intervention in English Language Arts (ELA). These numbers reflect the impact that online learning has had on our students' academic and social-emotional skills. The tutoring services provided by AmeriCorps members will directly address this critical need in our community.

Students participating in the program will receive daily tutoring. Each AmeriCorps member will tutor between 25-30 students over the school year, depending on their assigned site. Utilizing an evidence-based approach, AmeriCorps tutors will implement Small Group Reading Interventions to enhance students' understanding of concepts and patterns. In addition to academic achievement, we aim to support our students' social-emotional needs. Given that AmeriCorps members will be with our students for an entire school year, they will serve as positive role models. Our AmeriCorps program aspires to make a positive impact on our students during this critical time in their lives.

Three-Quarters-Time Members (2024-25)

Earn a monthly living allowance/ stipend of $2,117.60 per month.
Receive a $5,176.50 Education Award upon successful completion of a minimum of 1200 hours of service.
May be eligible for child care assistance.
Obtain transferable skills employers value including leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Gain first-hand experience in an educational setting.
Receive professional and career development training throughout the year.

Eligibility Requirements

Individuals interested in applying for a position as an AmeriCorps member must meet these minimum requirements:

Be at least 17 years of age
Possess at minimum a high school diploma or GED certification
Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

If you are interested in making a difference in our community, please fill out this interest form, and we will contact you with more information.

Program Start/End Date: August 12, 2024 - May 30, 2025.
Schedule: 8am-3:30pm (35 hours a week)
Accepting Applications: April 2024 - June 2024.

For questions about the program, reach out by email: [email protected]