About
America Reads / America Counts Tutoring Program offers reading assistance, math assistance, and tutoring in reading and mathematics for young children. The program provides in-school tutoring, supervised after-school tutoring, and both in-person and virtual individualized support.
• Ages: 5–15 years old
• Schedule: Tutoring is available Monday–Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and on Saturdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., with a minimum commitment of 2 hours per week for one full semester.
The initiative was introduced to assist every child in the process of learning to read by the third grade and to increase fundamental reading skills in elementary students through partnerships with colleges and universities. The America Reads program began in 1996 with a reading initiative proposed by President Clinton, and America Counts was initiated in July 1999 as an effort to improve student achievement in mathematics and assist students in mastering challenging mathematics by the end of the 9th grade. America Reads / America Counts is described as a federal program administered by Illinois State University’s Financial Aid Office.
Illinois State University hires enthusiastic undergraduate and graduate students to provide reading and/or math assistance for Kindergarten through 9th grade students. Tutors are required to attend paid mandatory training sessions, primarily on Zoom, and participate in online group chats. Tutors provide families with a Zoom link for virtual sessions and must provide their own transportation to sites, with many sites within walking distance from campus or on the bus route, and carpooling encouraged.
Tutors must meet several requirements, including a minimum 2.5 grade point average, receipt of a Federal Work Study award for the term of application, proof of eligibility to work in the United States, and at least half-time enrollment at Illinois State. Tutors must pass a federal criminal fingerprint background investigation processed by the ISU Office of Human Resources, and additional background checks may be required for specific sites. Tutoring or mentoring experience and a background in working with children are preferred, and the program also recruits students with bilingual Spanish or French speaking skills.
More than 1,400 colleges and universities participate in the America Reads / America Counts program, and over one thousand institutions have joined the America Reads Challenge by committing Federal Work Study students to tutor young children in reading. At Illinois State University, the program supplies tutors to the Bloomington-Normal community and forms partnerships with community partners. Parents with limited or no English language skills can receive assistance from tutors when completing enrollment forms, and all enrollment forms are available in Spanish, with ISU bilingual students in great demand.
The leadership team includes Lyn Morris, Program Coordinator; David Vargas, Program Assistant; Olivia Ferzacca, Program Assistant; and Paulina Quintana Lopez, Program Assistant. One testimonial notes that ISU students receive Federal Work-Study dollars and experience working with kids, and that the program began with not more than 20 tutors. Another testimonial describes parents with limited English reaching out to the program for assistance and highlights the availability of enrollment forms in Spanish and the demand for bilingual ISU students. A new community partner notes the positive impact of the program on students, especially with year-round support, and mentions exploring opportunities for collaboration to promote literacy among students.
Last updated May 25, 2026.
• Ages: 5–15 years old
• Schedule: Tutoring is available Monday–Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and on Saturdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., with a minimum commitment of 2 hours per week for one full semester.
The initiative was introduced to assist every child in the process of learning to read by the third grade and to increase fundamental reading skills in elementary students through partnerships with colleges and universities. The America Reads program began in 1996 with a reading initiative proposed by President Clinton, and America Counts was initiated in July 1999 as an effort to improve student achievement in mathematics and assist students in mastering challenging mathematics by the end of the 9th grade. America Reads / America Counts is described as a federal program administered by Illinois State University’s Financial Aid Office.
Illinois State University hires enthusiastic undergraduate and graduate students to provide reading and/or math assistance for Kindergarten through 9th grade students. Tutors are required to attend paid mandatory training sessions, primarily on Zoom, and participate in online group chats. Tutors provide families with a Zoom link for virtual sessions and must provide their own transportation to sites, with many sites within walking distance from campus or on the bus route, and carpooling encouraged.
Tutors must meet several requirements, including a minimum 2.5 grade point average, receipt of a Federal Work Study award for the term of application, proof of eligibility to work in the United States, and at least half-time enrollment at Illinois State. Tutors must pass a federal criminal fingerprint background investigation processed by the ISU Office of Human Resources, and additional background checks may be required for specific sites. Tutoring or mentoring experience and a background in working with children are preferred, and the program also recruits students with bilingual Spanish or French speaking skills.
More than 1,400 colleges and universities participate in the America Reads / America Counts program, and over one thousand institutions have joined the America Reads Challenge by committing Federal Work Study students to tutor young children in reading. At Illinois State University, the program supplies tutors to the Bloomington-Normal community and forms partnerships with community partners. Parents with limited or no English language skills can receive assistance from tutors when completing enrollment forms, and all enrollment forms are available in Spanish, with ISU bilingual students in great demand.
The leadership team includes Lyn Morris, Program Coordinator; David Vargas, Program Assistant; Olivia Ferzacca, Program Assistant; and Paulina Quintana Lopez, Program Assistant. One testimonial notes that ISU students receive Federal Work-Study dollars and experience working with kids, and that the program began with not more than 20 tutors. Another testimonial describes parents with limited English reaching out to the program for assistance and highlights the availability of enrollment forms in Spanish and the demand for bilingual ISU students. A new community partner notes the positive impact of the program on students, especially with year-round support, and mentions exploring opportunities for collaboration to promote literacy among students.
Last updated May 25, 2026.
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