What are the responsibilities and job description for the K-3 Reading Tutor, 2025-2026 position at Colorado Youth for a Change?
Program Overview
CYC began implementing Reading Corps in Colorado in 2017 to provide reading supports for kindergarten - 3rd grade students. Colorado Reading Corps is an AmeriCorps program with the mission of ensuring that all students in Colorado are reading proficiently by the end of third grade. The Reading Corps program combines the power of national service with literacy science to deliver proven approaches that help struggling learners transform into confident students - something that translates into all areas of their lives.
Because Reading Corps tutors are in schools full-time, they are providing consistent, daily tutoring, which is why this model has a greater impact on student success. Tutors commit to a term of service and receive rigorous training plus ongoing expert literacy coaching throughout the year. With the use of rich data assessments, they ensure their efforts produce the desired results - helping children achieve grade-level reading proficiency.
Position Summary
This is an AmeriCorps service member position within an AmeriCorps program, Colorado Reading Corps. The K-3 Reading Tutor is placed at one elementary school to provide supplemental practice to children in kindergarten through third grade to develop their reading skills. The tutor will use scripted, evidence-based literacy interventions as guided by coaches and will conduct assessments to ensure each student is on track to read at grade level.
Members serve during school hours and are needed for the entire school year. The position is full-time (35-40 hours per week), with school breaks and holidays off. This position begins on August 18th, 2025 and ends on May 29th, 2026.
Essential Functions
Literacy Strategies and Assessment
Members serve full-time (35-40 hours a week), during a typical school schedule. Daily hours are usually within the time frame of 7:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, however these may vary slightly from site to site. Members may attend site-sponsored activities outside of regular service hours (e.g., family night). Members have time off during school breaks or holidays when the students are not in school.
This schedule format will ensure members meet the 1200-hour requirement between August 18th, 2025 and May 29th, 2026. Members are required to commit to the full term of service. On August 18th, members will begin their term of service with two weeks of online orientation. They will begin in their school after completing training.
MEMBER TRAINING
Members participate in a two-week onboarding training at the beginning of their service term. Orientation is completed online. Members participate in Zoom meetings, interactive trainings, and self-directed learning modules. During orientation, members are trained in individualized student support strategies, mandated reporting, data entry, and more. Members complete their Reading Corps Institute training during orientation.
Members receive one-on-one supervision twice per month by a CYC Reading Corps Coach. Members participate in ongoing professional development trainings facilitated by CYC staff and through community partners of CYC at least twice per month. Members also participate in professional development opportunities at their service sites which vary depending on the site.
SERVICE LOCATION
CYC AmeriCorps members are placed at one school during the term of service. Placement will be determined based on the needs of the member and the needs of the school. Typically, member location and mode of transportation are the biggest consideration. Although members are placed at one school, there will be regular opportunities to connect as a larger team with other fellow Reading Corps members. Service sites are located throughout the state of Colorado.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
CYC began implementing Reading Corps in Colorado in 2017 to provide reading supports for kindergarten - 3rd grade students. Colorado Reading Corps is an AmeriCorps program with the mission of ensuring that all students in Colorado are reading proficiently by the end of third grade. The Reading Corps program combines the power of national service with literacy science to deliver proven approaches that help struggling learners transform into confident students - something that translates into all areas of their lives.
Because Reading Corps tutors are in schools full-time, they are providing consistent, daily tutoring, which is why this model has a greater impact on student success. Tutors commit to a term of service and receive rigorous training plus ongoing expert literacy coaching throughout the year. With the use of rich data assessments, they ensure their efforts produce the desired results - helping children achieve grade-level reading proficiency.
Position Summary
This is an AmeriCorps service member position within an AmeriCorps program, Colorado Reading Corps. The K-3 Reading Tutor is placed at one elementary school to provide supplemental practice to children in kindergarten through third grade to develop their reading skills. The tutor will use scripted, evidence-based literacy interventions as guided by coaches and will conduct assessments to ensure each student is on track to read at grade level.
Members serve during school hours and are needed for the entire school year. The position is full-time (35-40 hours per week), with school breaks and holidays off. This position begins on August 18th, 2025 and ends on May 29th, 2026.
Essential Functions
Literacy Strategies and Assessment
- Identify students who qualify for Reading Corps tutoring services based on a Reading Corps designed assessment with direction from Coaches.
- Conduct one-on-one or paired tutoring sessions with students using scripted, evidence-based literacy strategies provided by Reading Corps; achieve a high degree of fidelity to the scripted strategies.
- Develop and maintain a weekly tutoring schedule for students which maximizes the number of students served (approximately 15-18 sessions daily) and allows each student to receive daily 20-minute reading tutoring sessions using prescribed literacy strategies.
- Assist students in improving their reading skills and abilities to reach grade level expectations.
- Assess, with a high level of accuracy, students’ continual progress using tri-annual benchmark assessments and ongoing progress monitoring assessments.
- Provide complete, accurate, and timely documentation of students’ weekly progress scores and interventions using an online database; maintain confidentiality of all student data.
- Regularly review student data with Coaches to gauge the effectiveness of the literacy strategies being used.
- Participate in coaching sessions (includes observation of tutor) to review student progress, plan, problem-solve, and set goals; act on constructive feedback from coaching sessions.
- Provide opportunities for family involvement for students receiving services, including implementing program family engagement interventions as available.
- Communicate and interact with students in an age and developmentally appropriate way.
- Foster a welcoming and supportive atmosphere though modeling respectful behavior and communication.
- Build professional relationships and communicate regularly with classroom teachers, internal coaches, and school site personnel regarding student schedules, interventions, student progress, etc.
- Build professional relationships and communicate regularly with CYC Reading Corps staff and members.
- Demonstrate regular, timely attendance and adherence to hours as scheduled.
- Commit to service for the full service term, serving the total commitment of hours within the term.
- Participate in all required Reading Corps-sponsored training sessions, meeting, and coaching sessions, including peer professional development/cluster meetings and member meet-ups; travel as necessary.
Members serve full-time (35-40 hours a week), during a typical school schedule. Daily hours are usually within the time frame of 7:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, however these may vary slightly from site to site. Members may attend site-sponsored activities outside of regular service hours (e.g., family night). Members have time off during school breaks or holidays when the students are not in school.
This schedule format will ensure members meet the 1200-hour requirement between August 18th, 2025 and May 29th, 2026. Members are required to commit to the full term of service. On August 18th, members will begin their term of service with two weeks of online orientation. They will begin in their school after completing training.
MEMBER TRAINING
Members participate in a two-week onboarding training at the beginning of their service term. Orientation is completed online. Members participate in Zoom meetings, interactive trainings, and self-directed learning modules. During orientation, members are trained in individualized student support strategies, mandated reporting, data entry, and more. Members complete their Reading Corps Institute training during orientation.
Members receive one-on-one supervision twice per month by a CYC Reading Corps Coach. Members participate in ongoing professional development trainings facilitated by CYC staff and through community partners of CYC at least twice per month. Members also participate in professional development opportunities at their service sites which vary depending on the site.
SERVICE LOCATION
CYC AmeriCorps members are placed at one school during the term of service. Placement will be determined based on the needs of the member and the needs of the school. Typically, member location and mode of transportation are the biggest consideration. Although members are placed at one school, there will be regular opportunities to connect as a larger team with other fellow Reading Corps members. Service sites are located throughout the state of Colorado.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
- Interest in education, specifically helping children develop early literacy skills.
- Dedication to community service.
- Strong planning and time-management skills.
- Strong capacity to be flexible and adaptable to varied circumstances, paired with a conscientious commitment to adhere to the Reading Corps tutoring model with fidelity.
- Consistent follow-through.
- Ability to accept and incorporate constructive feedback from coaches and program staff.
- Ability to work with all identities.
- Open to learning and unlearning.
- Ability to adapt to a sometimes challenging and high-pressure environment.
- Free and immediate health insurance through Corps Network - Cigna.
- Living allowance of $1,326 pretax distributed on the 3rd and 18th of every service month.
- Eli Segal Education Award (can be used to pay future tuition or federal student loans) of up to $5,176.50 for completing the 1200-hour term (for members starting in August).
- Bus pass for everyday commute for members utilizing public transportation OR mileage reimbursement for members utilizing a personal vehicle for any miles traveled during the school day (this DOES NOT include reimbursement for daily commuting to and from service site).
- Members participate in professional development and training to learn to best support students.
- Access to the Member Assistance Program (MAP) that provides free, confidential, 24/7 phone counseling to members and 3 free in-person or telehealth sessions with a licensed clinician.
- Federal Loan Forbearance - AmeriCorps will pay off interest that is accrued during your term of service on all eligible student loans.
