èßäAV

Photo of a student and volunteer tutor in a reading center engaging in èßäAV’ traditional tutoring program (Photo Credit: èßäAV)

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Monique Garcia

Director of External Relations and Development, èßäAV Silicon Valley

(408) 945-5720 |Ìýmonique.garcia@readingpartners.org

Nonprofit’s 2020-21 impact results show that its innovative online program, èßäAV Connects, positively impacted students last yearÌý

(Milpitas, CA) September 21, 2021Ìý

èßäAV is ready to support student learning no matter what this school year brings

With the COVID-19 Delta variant spreading in communities across the country and vaccine timelines for young children still undetermined, no one knows exactly what to expect from the 2021-22 school year. Given the many variables at play, èßäAV knows that a hybrid approach to tutoring will ensure that students will be able to receive much-needed literacy support regardless of public health circumstances. Where it is feasible to do so safely, èßäAV will offer its traditional in-person tutoring program with community volunteers working one-on-one with students in a dedicated reading center in local public schools. In cases where in-person tutoring is not possible,ÌýÌýwill allow volunteer tutors to work remotely with individual students in real time. èßäAV Connects offers the same research-based curriculum materials, scripted lessons, and coaching that support volunteers through the traditional tutoring model.

Students need èßäAV more than ever

The widespread school interruptions of the past few years have exacerbated pre-existing opportunity gaps (with pandemic-related learning loss disproportionately impacting Black and Latinx students and students experiencing economic disadvantages). Reading is foundational—the ability to read transforms lives and empowers children and communities to thrive. When students can read on grade level by fourth grade, they become well-positioned to graduate from high school, access higher education, and contribute to an increasingly information-based world. èßäAV is committed to ensuring that all students receive equitable access to the literacy education they deserve and Ìýhas proven that èßäAV helps students significantly increase reading proficiency.

2020-21 results show that èßäAV’ innovation helped positively impact students

Each year, èßäAV publishes reports highlighting student performance for the national organization and for each of its 12 respective regions across the country. The Impact & Innovation reports for the 2020-21 school year have recently been posted onÌýÌýand include the following highlights.

• In Silicon Valley:

  • 301 studentsÌý²¹³ÙÌý14 partner schoolsÌýwere matched withÌý455 community volunteersÌýwho delivered a total ofÌý9,343 tutoring sessionsÌýover the course of the year.

  • 100% of tutoring sessionsÌýwere delivered online via èßäAV Connects.

  • Facing historic educational disruptions,Ìý87% of K-2ÌýèßäAV studentsÌýandÌý76% of all èßäAV studentsÌýmet or exceeded their primary literacy growth goal.

  • Despite the heavy shift to an online tutoring platform, and because volunteers received a collectiveÌý2,272 hours of trainingÌýlast year (including many new focus areas),Ìý95% of volunteers were satisfied with their experience.

  • Learn more about èßäAV’ impact in Silicon ValleyÌý.

  • Learn about èßäAV’ national impactÌý.

Community involvement will allow èßäAV to maximize student support

The impressive student results highlighted in the 2020-21 Impact & Innovation report are fueled by the generous participation of thousands of community volunteers and donors. In the 2021-22 school year, èßäAV will provide direct literacy tutoring and support to 12,000 students nationwide and more than 500 students in Silicon Valley across its various learning environments.

To become a volunteer with èßäAV, please visitÌýÌýand to financially support èßäAV’ mission centered on educational equity and opportunity for all students, please visitÌý.

A èßäAV student works remotely with a volunteer tutor using the èßäAV Connects program innovation (photo credit: èßäAV)

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About èßäAV

For over, èßäAV has helped empower students to succeed in reading and in life by engaging community volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring. Since its founding, the national nonprofit organization has mobilized over 70,000 community volunteers to provide, individualized literacy tutoring to nearly 70,000 elementary school students in over 450 under-resourced schools across ten states and the District of Columbia. VisitÌýto learn more about ourÌýand ourÌýonline program innovation, or connect with us on,,, and. èßäAV is a proudÌýservice partner and has been endorsed by the New York Times.