The Alachua County Partners in Education Program works to strengthen the educational process through promoting and facilitating collaborative efforts between schools and the private sector. Over 4000 students have volunteered since the program began. Volunteers commit for one semester, although many continue beyond. Formal recruitment, orientation, and placement of volunteers is done at the beginning of fall and spring semesters. This program is designed to impact at risk children between the ages of four and six who have tested below their peer group in language development and pre-reading skills.
Volunteers come into the school once a week to read aloud, individually, to two to three children.
Each semester, the district office recruits and places thousands of students from the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College as volunteers in area schools. Teachers submit requests and sign ups are held within the first two weeks of classes. We collaborate with professors at both institutions to provide their students with opportunities to experience working with children in public schools.