America Reads/Counts Program This tutoring program is a collaborative effort between the five college administrators, students, and community members, as well as the Five Colleges, Inc. office working together to insure that all children in the community are reading independently by the end of the third grade. Enlisted students from Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst have joined together in the America Reads/America Counts Program (ARAC) to help area schools and agencies serving elementary age children to obtain math and reading tutors at no cost. For the past two decades, ARAC has placed hundreds of tutors at over 30 different local schools and community agencies in the five college community, including elementary schools, after-school programs, libraries, and child care services. The response from both the tutors and commuity agencies have been overwhelmingly positive America Reads The America Reads Challenge is an effort to mobilize an army of reading tutors to ensure that every child can read independently by the end of the third grade. The program has made new increases in Federal Work Study dedicated to tutoring children in reading. Unlike other Work Study arrangements, the America Reads Challenge requires no matching funds from the schools/community agencies where tutors are working. Recently, Five College America Reads Tutors had over 200 tutors at over 30 different local schools and community agencies, including elementary schools, after-school programs, libraries, and child care services. The response from both the tutors and the work sites has been overwhelmingly positive. One tutor wrote in her evaluation of the program, "I've realized how important it is to read and write with strength and accuracy because it says a lot about who you are." Another tutor wrote ". . . tutoring was a very educational experience for me. I enjoyed helping the children learn to read and developing a trust with the students." Similarly, the work sites have also found a great resource in the program. One site wrote in their evaluation "[the tutor] is a joy to have around. She has been flexible, able to work with different children at different levels, and is wonderfully enthusiastic. We have been delighted to have her work with our students." America Counts America Counts is a new initiative from the Federal Government to improve the math skills of children. It works the same as America Reads, with schools, after-school programs, libraries, etc., taking part as tutoring sites, though America Counts is for children preschool through the 9th grade. America Reads is for children preschool through the 6th grade. If you are interested in tutoring math and/or reading, look for a tutoring position by reaching out to the individuals in the contacts section. As a tutor for America Counts, you will be required to attend the same trainings as America Reads Tutors: an Overview Training Session, the Extended Training Workshop and one of the Special Topic Sessions. Other training and support will be provided by the site that has hired you as a math tutor. You also may tutor both reading and math if you choose. Please visit the Federal Government's Department of Education web site for more information on America Counts. Overview Trainings (OT) Extended Training Workshops (ETW) Resources Contacts Five Colleges®, Incorporated 97 Spring Street, Amherst, MA 01002 (413) 542-4000 Social Facebook Twitter YouTube SmugMug Quick Links About the Consortium Employment Governing Committees Log In Member Institutions Amherst College Hampshire College Mount Holyoke College Smith College UMass Amherst Login Non-Discrimination Policy Five Colleges, Incorporated (FCI) is committed to providing equal access and opportunity in employment and education to all employees and students. In compliance with state and federal law, FCI does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, genetic information, sex, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, ancestry, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state or local law. A member of the Association for Collaborative Leadership. ©2021 Five Colleges®, Incorporated