Schools, partners, funders

Experience Corps impact

Educators, members and community leaders

Answers to your questions

MEMBER PROFILE

Still Forming
Bonds

Raul Castaneda, classroom aide turned Experience Corps member (and award winner), San Francisco

I joined Experience Corps because: When I retired years ago, I was looking for something to do. I saw an Experience Corps flyer at the library, and I called the organization. It's been a great experience working in the schools because I'm a bilingual tutor.

The best part of being an Experience Corps member is : The immediate result I see every day when I work with the children one-on-one.

I like to tell the story about: I have a student this year from Mexico. This last year I've been working with her one-on-one for 45 minutes every day, and she's more open and has friends. Also, last year, I worked with a third-grade boy. He had to go back to Mexico, and I visited him, bringing him letters from his old classmates. I want to visit him every year.

I'm sticking with Experience Corps because: I've learned the last three years that a strong base in elementary school is important for moving from elementary to middle school -- you have to have a strong curriculum.

Read about Raul's recent award!

"It's like a job. You have goals. You see results" -Yuriy, Experience Corps Member

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Program Details

Year of Experience Corps project launch: 1996

Number of students served annually: 3,500-4,500

Number of schools served: 40+

Grades/ages of students served: K-5

Experience Corps participants:
400-450 Leadership Level 100-200 Associates

Participant hours logged over the 2007-2008 school year: 180,000

Neighborhoods and Schools/Centers served: East Falls, North, Central North, Northeast, Northwest, South, and Southwest

Requirements for Members: Experience Corps Members are required to complete application and screening materials and a one-hour interview; criminal and child abuse background checks; successful completion of all pre-service training and orientation; regular attendance; all in-service training and events; successful member performance review.

Partners

Lead Agency: Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning
And the College of Health Professions

Other community partners: School District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania AARP, Foundations, Inc., KidsZone, Coming of Age, Philadelphia Cares, WHYY, RSVP, area faith-based organizations; Reading Stars, and Philadelphia Reads.

Funding Support

Funding and support has come through: The School District of Philadelphia and our partner schools, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Department for Economic Community Development, Pennsylvania AARP, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies, the National Council on Aging, the US Administration on Aging, the William Penn Foundation, the Fels Foundation, Public/Private Ventures and the Ford Foundation, the Claneil Foundation, Civic Ventures, and a number of individual donors.

Growth Plans

The Philadelphia Experience Corps Program completed a large scale expansion from 10 schools to over 40, with the hope of sustaining growth until all elementary schools have an Experience Corps team. Working with AARP, initial planning has been completed for a state-wide expansion.. If you are interested in helping Experience Corps continue its expansion, please contact Robert Tietze, Executive Director, at 215-204-8057.

Robert Tietze
Executive Director, Experience Corps
Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning
Phone: 215-204-8057
tietze@temple.edu

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"In the 21st century, the best anti-poverty program around is a world-class education. And in this country, the success of our children cannot depend more on where they live than on their potential."

-President Obama, "State of the Union," January 27, 2010

"Together, we can continue our commitment to education innovation by investing in Experience Corps, a program that helps elementary students by increasing the number of older adult tutors and mentors in the classroom. Independent research shows that Experience Corps works: Third-grade reading and math scores are rising and students feel safer at school."

-Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, State of the City Speech, February 22, 2010