THE READING PROGRAM

40 N Milpitas Blvd.
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 262-1349
(408) 262-5806 fax

Background

The Reading Program offers free and confidential, one-on-one tutoring for English-speaking adults, and provides free materials for both tutors and learners. Since 1985, more than 1,700 tutors have been trained to teach basic literacy skills to more than 1,800 learners.

The Reading Program is a personalized tutoring program. Each tutor receives 15 hours of training prior to working with a motivated learner. Trainings are offered over 27 times a year, through the offices of local community colleges and The Reading Program staff. Tutors and learners make a six-month commitment to work together for at least two hours a week. Over half of our matches, however, continue beyond one year.

In our efforts to promote literacy in Santa Clara County, The Reading Program encourages you to volunteer to teach someone to read, or to refer someone in need to our office. The Reading Program welcomes questions, opportunities to reach out to learners, and working with individuals or companies also committed to promoting literacy.

Services

The Reading Program is committed to serving adult learners in Santa Clara County by providing the tools necessary to meet their immediate challenges and to promote life-long learning. As such, The Reading Program offers individuals nine main projects in which they can volunteer.
  1. Community Program Volunteers are trained to work one-on-one with motivated adults throughout Santa Clara County on their reading, writing, and basic math.
  2. Inmate Literacy A vital part of defeating recidivism, community tutors help male and female inmates. Tutors work in three correctional facilities in Milpitas and San Jose. Peer tutors are also trained to work with fellow inmates.
  3. Recovery House Literacy This project helps clients in three county Alcohol and Drug recovery houses. Tutors help clients acquire literacy skills as they learn to live a clean and sober life.
  4. Perinatal Literacy Tutors work with pregnant women and new moms who are in an outpatient substance abuse program. Tutors help promote literacy in the home, thus breaking the cycle of illiteracy.
  5. Famtrack In 1994, The Reading Program proudly announces its newest project - Famtrack. The Reading Program is one of five programs in California who will be matching volunteers to work with families to promote family reading times, home libraries, and use of the libraries. Each family will have at least one child who is 5 or under.
  6. Read Aloud In Morgan Hill and Gilroy, trained volunteers read to 1st to 3rd graders who read below the 50th percentile on basic skills tets. Extremely rewarding and successful, this project fosters a positive attitude toward learning.
  7. Computer-Aided Literacy (CAL) The CAL project supports learners and tutors with 15 Macintosh workstations in libraries throughout the county. Using both commercial and custom literacy software, learners gain literacy and computer skills.
  8. Project Enable Learner-centered activities provide learners with a supportive and motivating environment. They learn to value and express their opinions, take on leadership roles, and encourage each other.
  9. Key to Community Learners design and conduct workshops and other materials that enable them to engage in the democratic process such as voting, discussing issues of local and national concern, and writing to their elected officials.

If you have any questions about general information or volunteering in any of the above programs please call us at (408) 262-1349.

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