America Reads - Mississippi (ARM) is an AmeriCorps program consisting of 350 full-time members who serve in approximately 80 school sites across the state of Mississippi. ARM AmeriCorps members strive daily to achieve the mission and meet the Program Performance Measures of America Reads - Mississippi by:
- Tutoring PreK - 3rd grade students in reading during school and in extended day programs
- Recruiting volunteers to assist with reading activities in the classroom, service projects, and homeland security activities
- Helping to increase parent involvement
- Implementing local emergency preparedness and homeland security workshops and awareness events
- Implementing statewide and local community service projects
- Participating in member development opportunities
Established in 1998, America Reads - Mississippi (ARM) is an AmeriCorps program administered through the Academic Affairs Office of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. ARM began with 200 full-time AmeriCorps members, partnered with two universities - Delta State University (DSU) and Mississippi State University (MSU) - and included 18 school districts and 29 school partners.
In the 2007-2008 school year, we are:
- 350 members strong
- serving in 80 school sites across the state
- partnering with five universities (Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, and the University of Southern Mississippi)
Other major partners include the Barksdale Reading Institute, Head Start, the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service, the Mississippi Department of Education, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, and the Mississippi Red Cross.
America Reads - Mississippi addresses the AmeriCorps issue area of education. AmeriCorps teams at school sites tutor children full-time one-on-one and in small groups during the school day, before and after school, over school breaks, and in the summer. Additionally, members recruit community volunteers to assist with reading activities, implement literacy related community service projects in conjunction with the four statewide national service days: Make a Difference Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Read Across America Day, and National Youth Service Day, and coordinate Homeland Security and Citizenship activities and workshops.
The program year runs from August to July. ARM members serve at least an 8 hour day Monday - Friday, with some weekend service to implement service projects.
ARM AmeriCorps members must:
- Be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.;
- Be at least 17 years old;
- Have a high school diploma or a GED;
- Be able to pass the Reading portion of the Work Keys Assessment; and
- Be able to clear an FBI background check and Child Abuse Registry check
ARM AmeriCorps Members are:
- Persons who would like to earn an education award to help pay for college or pay back student loans.
- Persons who are committed to providing quality service to children, schools, and communities.
- Persons who believe in the spirit of volunteerism.
- Persons who have not served more than one year in any other AmeriCorps program.
To apply to become an America Reads - Mississippi reading tutor, one must contact a partnering school district directly. If you are an Assistant Teacher currently employed at a partnering school, contact the school official that is responsible for ARM at the school site.
School Districts who partner with ARM select both the stipended and teacher assistant members who will serve in their schools.
For more information regarding America Reads - Mississippi, please go to the Program Staff page.