The AARP Foundation Experience Corps program aims to address poor elementary literacy rates by matching senior volunteers in the community (age 50 or older) with students who are struggling to read in grade K-3 classrooms. This evaluation was funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service’s (CNCS) Social Innovation Fund (SIF) and supported by the AARP Foundation.
 
Study Goals:
The goal of this study was to determine whether the Experience Corps’ sustained small group tutoring strategy improves children’s literacy achievement and social-emotional learning outcomes.
 
Research Questions:
The research questions were:
  • What does the Experience Corps sustained small group tutoring model look like?
  • How did students who received Experience Corps sustained small group tutoring compare to the control group on literacy achievement and social-emotional learning outcomes?
  • Under what conditions is Experience Corps sustained small group tutoring most effective?
Findings:
The evaluation found the following:
  • Experience Corps’ sustained small group tutoring, as implemented in this study, did not have a statistically significant impact on student literacy or social-emotional skills, when compared to the control group.
  • There was substantial variation between local programs in small group tutoring delivery and the content delivered.
    • Experience Corps sustained small group tutoring was most effective in Macon where tutors were observed to adhere most closely to the recommended session structure.
  • Students who received tutoring began the school year with substantially lower achievement levels than the control group; however, they experienced upward trajectories in reading achievement scores comparable to the control group students’ trajectories.
  • Exploratory analyses revealed a statistically significant relationship between dosage and outcomes: students who spent more time in sustained small group tutoring had significantly stronger literacy outcomes.
  • Students in classrooms that received Experience Corps literacy assistance in addition to Experience Corps sustained small group tutoring had significantly lower gains on one literacy outcome than students who received Experience Corps sustained small group tutoring alone.
For more information, download the full report and report brief.

Full report

Full Report
AARP FDN 2015_Experience Corps SIF Final Report_508.pdf
AARP FDN 2015_EC_Evaluation Report Brief_Final_508.pdf

Further information

Program/Intervention
Experience Corps
Implementing Organization
Generations Inc, Read to Succeed Buffalo, United Way Central Georgia
Intermediary(s)

AARP Foundation

AmeriCorps Program(s)
Social Innovation Fund
Age(s) Studied
6-12 (Childhood)
Focus Population(s)/Community(s)
Schools
Rural
Suburban
Urban
Low Income
Outcome Category
School readiness
K-12 success
Study Type(s)
Feasibility
Impact
Implementation
Study Design(s)
Experimental (RCT)
Level of Evidence
Preliminary
Researcher/Evaluator
Abt Associates
Published Year
2020
Study Site Location (State)
Massachusetts