Fact Sheet
You can download a PDF version of our Fact Sheet by clicking
here.
View PDF version of the CEO's letter by clicking
here.
Program Description
Experience Corps, an award-winning national program, engages people over 55 in meeting their communities' greatest challenges. Today, in
22
cities across the country, 2,000 Experience Corps members tutor and mentor elementary school students, help teachers in the classroom, and lead after-school enrichment activities. Independent research shows that Experience Corps boosts student academic performance, helps schools and youth-serving organizations become more successful, and enhances the well-being of the older adults in the process.
History
Started in 1995 as a pilot project in five cities, Experience Corps had its beginnings in a 1988 concept
paper by John Gardner, former Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and founder of Common Cause.
Site Locations
| Baltimore City | Baltimore County | Beaumont |
| Boston | Cleveland | Evansville |
| Grand Rapids | Greater New Haven | Marin County |
| Mesa | Minneapolis | New York City |
| Oakland | Philadelphia | Port Arthur |
| Portland | Revere | San Francisco |
| St. Paul | Tempe | Tucson |
| Washington, DC |
The Experience Corps difference
There are many wonderful programs, both locally and nationally, that involve older adults in helping to meet community needs. Experience Corps is a distinct model and approach that is defined by these six elements:
- Focus on outcomes
- High member commitment
- Rigorous member training
- Team-based approach
- Critical mass of members
- Leadership development
A significant impact
Experience Corps makes a significant impact on students, schools, community organizations and members:
For students
- Higher test scores: According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, third graders working with Experience Corps members scored significantly higher on the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program than children in the control schools. More >>
- Self-confidence: Teachers report that students who work with Experience Corps members gain in self-confidence and make significant progress in reading and academic achievement. More >>
- Committed, caring adults: Experience Corps members provide a consistent adult presence for children, boosting their success inside and outside of the classroom. Research tells us that children need ongoing, secure relationships with adults in their families, schools and communities. More>>
For schools
- Classroom Behavior: In schools with Experience Corps, referrals to the principal for classroom misbehavior decreased by half; referrals in the other schools remained about the same. More >>
- Learning Environment: Research from the Center for American Progress finds that Experience Corps makes "a significant difference building a positive environment for learning, help students achieve," and serve as "a cost effective way to improve the quality of education and supplement overworked teachers." More >>
- Teachers and Principals: Educators report high satisfaction with the Experience Corps program. Three out of four teachers report dramatic improvements in student behavior, readiness to learn and respect for older adults. More >>
For Experience Corps members
- Health and well-being: Experience Corps members show significant increases in cognitive ability, physical activity, and strength compared to a control group More >>
- Social connections: Experience Corps members report social gains, including a significant decrease in time spent watching TV and a significant increase in the number of people they feel they could turn to for help. More >>.
For more information, please contact us
Experience Corps
2120 L Street, NW, Suite 610
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202-478-6190
Fax: 202-478-6162
www.experiencecorps.org
info@experiencecorps.org
2120 L Street, NW, Suite 610
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202-478-6190
Fax: 202-478-6162
www.experiencecorps.org
info@experiencecorps.org
Social Capitalist Award winner, 2007 and 2008
