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History & How It Works
The Augustine Literacy Project was founded in 1994 by Holy Family Episcopal Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. We train and support volunteer tutors who provide free, one-on-one, long-term instruction in reading, writing, and spelling to low income children and teens who struggle with literacy skills. The program provides each tutor with 70 hours of training (classroom and practicum) based on the Orton-Gillingham approach, using research-based reading materials from a variety of sources, including the Wilson Reading System®. The Orton-Gillingham approach is a systematic, multisensory, phonetic teaching methodology that is proven to work with learning disabled children and others with reading difficulties.
Upon satisfactory completion of the Augustine training, each tutor is paired with a low income child and commits to work with him or her pro bono for a minimum of 60 sessions. Tutors usually meet with their students at the child's school two or three times a week. An Augustine lesson is 45 minutes long. Comprehensive pre and post testing - using professionally recognized instruments to measure phonological awareness, word attack, rapid naming, fluency, comprehension and spelling - is administered to evaluate student progress.
Because reading, writing and spelling difficulties can result in poor school performance and low self-esteem, families who are financially able send their children with language related learning differences to special schools or hire private tutors. In Durham and Chapel Hill, tutors charge from $25 to $60 an hour. The Augustine Project is committed to providing caring, professionally trained tutors for those whose families cannot afford to pay. The combination of nurture and knowledge that an Augustine tutor offers can mean the difference between prison and productivity for an at-risk student.
Tutor training sessions are offered every year, several times a year (see schedule). We offer scholarships and all participants receive a significantly reduced tuition because of their commitment to help a disadvantaged child. After the initial two-week training, Augustine tutors are provided with materials (including access to our resource library), ongoing support and continuing education opportunities. In addition to working with their "Augustine child", tutors can earn supplemental income by tutoring other students at market rates.
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Those We Serve
We serve students in grades 1 through 12 who attend Durham, Chapel Hill, Chatham, Orange and Wake County public schools. Students are referred to the program by family members, guardians, teachers, counselors or learning disability specialists. The two eligibility requirements for Augustine tutoring are: 1) low income, qualifying for free or reduced price lunch, and 2) below grade level performance in reading, writing or spelling. We do not require that our students meet the discrepancy criteria used by the state of North Carolina to determine eligibility for LD services in the public schools (a 15 point difference between ability and achievement scores obtained through a psycho-educational testing battery).
Many of our tutors go beyond academic language therapy and serve as advocates for their students, seeking appropriate testing, services and accomodations. This is important to the population we serve since support from home may be weak.
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Staff
The Augustine Literacy Project has three staff members, a full time Executive Director, a part time assistant and a part time development officer. It is funded through grants, church outreach funds and private donations.
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Replications
The Augustine Literacy Project has been successfully replicated in Chapel Hill/Durham, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Hickory, Asheville, Sanford, Wilson, Brevard and Burlington NC; Houston, TX; Greenville, SC. We encourage and support the creation of new chapters. To learn more about our replication policy, click here.
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Concentrated Trainings
The Augustine Literacy Project of Chapel Hill/Durham also offers on-site concentrated trainings at churches or civic organizations. The trainings last 17.5 hours and include a two-day practicum.
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High School Elective Course
The Augustine Literacy Project offers an elective course for seniors at Durham Academy Upper School and Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill, pairing these students with Augustine children at Forest View and Hope Valley Elementary Schools in Durham. These seniors earn credit taking the course which meets daily throughout the school year.
return to top
The Augustine Literacy Project was founded in 1994 by Holy Family Episcopal Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. We train and support volunteer tutors who provide free, one-on-one, long-term instruction in reading, writing, and spelling to low income children and teens who struggle with literacy skills. The program provides each tutor with 70 hours of training (classroom and practicum) based on the Orton-Gillingham approach, using research-based reading materials from a variety of sources, including the Wilson Reading System®. The Orton-Gillingham approach is a systematic, multisensory, phonetic teaching methodology that is proven to work with learning disabled children and others with reading difficulties.
Upon satisfactory completion of the Augustine training, each tutor is paired with a low income child and commits to work with him or her pro bono for a minimum of 60 sessions. Tutors usually meet with their students at the child's school two or three times a week. An Augustine lesson is 45 minutes long. Comprehensive pre and post testing - using professionally recognized instruments to measure phonological awareness, word attack, rapid naming, fluency, comprehension and spelling - is administered to evaluate student progress.
Because reading, writing and spelling difficulties can result in poor school performance and low self-esteem, families who are financially able send their children with language related learning differences to special schools or hire private tutors. In Durham and Chapel Hill, tutors charge from $25 to $60 an hour. The Augustine Project is committed to providing caring, professionally trained tutors for those whose families cannot afford to pay. The combination of nurture and knowledge that an Augustine tutor offers can mean the difference between prison and productivity for an at-risk student.
Tutor training sessions are offered every year, several times a year (see schedule). We offer scholarships and all participants receive a significantly reduced tuition because of their commitment to help a disadvantaged child. After the initial two-week training, Augustine tutors are provided with materials (including access to our resource library), ongoing support and continuing education opportunities. In addition to working with their "Augustine child", tutors can earn supplemental income by tutoring other students at market rates.
return to top
Those We Serve
We serve students in grades 1 through 12 who attend Durham, Chapel Hill, Chatham, Orange and Wake County public schools. Students are referred to the program by family members, guardians, teachers, counselors or learning disability specialists. The two eligibility requirements for Augustine tutoring are: 1) low income, qualifying for free or reduced price lunch, and 2) below grade level performance in reading, writing or spelling. We do not require that our students meet the discrepancy criteria used by the state of North Carolina to determine eligibility for LD services in the public schools (a 15 point difference between ability and achievement scores obtained through a psycho-educational testing battery).
Many of our tutors go beyond academic language therapy and serve as advocates for their students, seeking appropriate testing, services and accomodations. This is important to the population we serve since support from home may be weak.
return to top
Staff
The Augustine Literacy Project has three staff members, a full time Executive Director, a part time assistant and a part time development officer. It is funded through grants, church outreach funds and private donations.
return to top
Replications
The Augustine Literacy Project has been successfully replicated in Chapel Hill/Durham, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Hickory, Asheville, Sanford, Wilson, Brevard and Burlington NC; Houston, TX; Greenville, SC. We encourage and support the creation of new chapters. To learn more about our replication policy, click here.
return to top
Concentrated Trainings
The Augustine Literacy Project of Chapel Hill/Durham also offers on-site concentrated trainings at churches or civic organizations. The trainings last 17.5 hours and include a two-day practicum.
return to top
High School Elective Course
The Augustine Literacy Project offers an elective course for seniors at Durham Academy Upper School and Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill, pairing these students with Augustine children at Forest View and Hope Valley Elementary Schools in Durham. These seniors earn credit taking the course which meets daily throughout the school year.
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Facts and Figures
Number of tutors trained in Triangle this year: 89
Number of tutors trained elsewhere by replication chapters: 126
Number of local schools / after school programs served: 124
Number of schools served by replication chapters: 101
Number of students who need an Augustine tutor in local area: 9,000 +
Number of C.E.U.'s offered by school systems for Augustine training: 6
Number of "home office" staff members: 3 (executive director; 1 part-time assistant and 1 part-time development officer)
Testing results:
Phonemic awareness scores improved by 42 %
Word attack improved an average of 1.5 grade levels
Sight word recognition increased an average of 31 %
Spelling improved an average of 1.2 grade levels
Fluency and comprehension: 82% of students improved from frustration level to instructional level
Funding sources (Budget):
<5 % Holy Family Outreach
>95% grants (foundations, family funds, diocese); training fees; donations from churches, civic groups and individuals;
special events (5K Run, bake sale, angels, Mother's Day)
Number of tutors trained in Triangle this year: 89
Number of tutors trained elsewhere by replication chapters: 126
Number of local schools / after school programs served: 124
Number of schools served by replication chapters: 101
Number of students who need an Augustine tutor in local area: 9,000 +
Number of C.E.U.'s offered by school systems for Augustine training: 6
Number of "home office" staff members: 3 (executive director; 1 part-time assistant and 1 part-time development officer)
Testing results:
Phonemic awareness scores improved by 42 %
Word attack improved an average of 1.5 grade levels
Sight word recognition increased an average of 31 %
Spelling improved an average of 1.2 grade levels
Fluency and comprehension: 82% of students improved from frustration level to instructional level
Funding sources (Budget):
<5 % Holy Family Outreach
>95% grants (foundations, family funds, diocese); training fees; donations from churches, civic groups and individuals;
special events (5K Run, bake sale, angels, Mother's Day)
Copyright © 2013 The Augustine Literacy Project• Chapel Hill, NC • 919-408-0798
The Augustine Literacy Project is an outreach ministry of
Holy Family Episcopal Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
The Augustine Literacy Project website is hosted by Ibiblio.org.
Holy Family Episcopal Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
The Augustine Literacy Project website is hosted by Ibiblio.org.
2013 Tutor Training Schedule
(click on date to contact trainer)
July 8-19, 2013 in Chapel Hill, NC
Oct. 7-18, 2013 in Durham, NC
Call 919-408-0798 or augustine@chfnc.net for more information.
Winter 2013 Newsletter
Click Here to watch AP video overview!
(click on date to contact trainer)
July 8-19, 2013 in Chapel Hill, NC
Oct. 7-18, 2013 in Durham, NC
Call 919-408-0798 or augustine@chfnc.net for more information.
Winter 2013 Newsletter
Click Here to watch AP video overview!
Replication Policy
Replication Policy is now available!
If you are interested in bringing The Augustine Literacy Project to your community, contact us!
Number of replication chapters: 12 (Chapel Hill/Durham, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Hickory, Asheville, Sanford, Wilson, Brevard and Burlington NC; Houston, TX; Greenville, SC)
Replication Policy is now available!
If you are interested in bringing The Augustine Literacy Project to your community, contact us!
Number of replication chapters: 12 (Chapel Hill/Durham, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Hickory, Asheville, Sanford, Wilson, Brevard and Burlington NC; Houston, TX; Greenville, SC)