Chicago HOPES

Did you know that over 15,000 Chicago Public School students were identified as homeless during the 2009-2010 academic school year? On average, each time a student changes schools, he or she is set back academically by 4-6 months. Within a year 41% of homeless students will attend two different schools, while 28% will attend three or more. Twenty-one percent of homeless children repeat a grade because of frequent absence from school, compared to five percent of other children.

Chicago HOPES, an initiative of Chicago Public Schools Educational Support for Students in Temporary Living Situations, aims to empower these homeless students to succeed academically. With the goal of sustainability, Chicago HOPES collaborates with schools, shelters and communities to establish shelter-based after school tutoring and cultural enrichment opportunities.

Chicago HOPES provides the only homeless shelter-based after-school tutoring program in Chicago. Currently operating in 10 shelters throughout the city, the ultimate goal of Chicago HOPES is to continue its expansion until it has established a program at all of the Chicago homeless shelters which serve families, women and children and unaccompanied youth. Chicago HOPES operates on a semester system with opportunities for students to attend sessions three days per week for 60-90 minutes per session throughout the Fall and Spring. The general focus of the program is homework assistance, with volunteer tutors providing academic support to homeless K-8 students living in the shelters. Each session is facilitated by a site coordinator who serves as the tutor supervisor and a liaison between Chicago HOPES and the shelter & students’ parents. Also present at each session is a head tutor with a background in education who assists and serves as a knowledgeable resource for the volunteer tutors. In addition, Chicago HOPES hosts enrichment volunteers that provide art, music, personal development, science and other fun, educational activities for the students and their parents six times throughout the semester.

You can help by becoming a….

*Volunteer Tutor: Provide homework assistance to the K-8 students in our program.

-Must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED

-Tutoring experience is not necessary.

-Must attend a two & a half hour mandatory training session for Volunteer Tutors

-Commit to at least one tutoring session per week for the length of the spring semester

-Must be comfortable working with multiple students in an occasionally fast-paced environment

*Head Tutor: In addition to providing homework assistance, Head Tutors are called on for academic guidance and structuring to assist other tutors as well as assess individual students’ academic needs and devise ideal tutoring strategies for these students.

- Must have a working knowledge of the education system and educational strategies

-A background in education is required. Students pursuing a degree in education, current educators and retired teachers are all strongly encouraged to apply

-Must complete screening process

-Must attend a two hour mandatory training session for Head Tutors.

-Commit to at least one tutoring sessions per week for the length of the spring semester.

*Enrichment Volunteer: Provide fun, educational activities for the students in our program.

-Must be experienced in the arts (music, art, dance, theater, photography) or other fun, educational subjects (science, community building, personal development).

-A background in teaching or working with children is preferred, but not required.

-Must attend a one hour mandatory training session for Enrichment Volunteers.

-Responsible for creating a lesson plan/project(s) around your specific area of interest.

-Commit to leading enrichment activities 3-4 times throughout the spring semester during periodic school breaks.  Dates for these sessions will fall on the weekdays between: February 28th- March 11th, and April 6th-15th.

If you’re interested in volunteering or if you would like to know more about the program, please visit our website www.chicagohopes.org. Check out the Volunteering FAQs or submit an online application!