Children Rising Launches Free Online Tutoring to Boost COVID Recovery for Elementary School Children

OAKLAND, Calif. - June 15, 2021 - PRLog -- Children Rising, a highly effective nonprofit educational agency founded in 2001, is taking the Oakland community a step closer to the day when every child can have access to a tutor, at no cost to the family.

Children Rising encourages members of the community to become tutors today and help a student overcome more than a year of learning loss. Potential tutors can learn more about opportunities at www.Children-Rising.org. "We want all school administrators in OUSD to be aware of - and utilize - our no-cost programs. Parents can contact their school administrator about Children Rising clinics offered at their school," said Jim Wambach, executive director of Children Rising.

Succeeding by Reading Anywhere and Path2Math Anywhere were developed to support elementary school children falling further behind in their reading and math abilities due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The online functionality is an enhancement of the proven Succeeding by Reading and Path2Math tutoring programs and provides opportunities for many more people throughout the Bay Area to tutor a struggling child.

"If people want to help, opportunities are more possible and more important than ever," said Wambach. "Just an hour of time, once a week, allows a caring adult to tutor a struggling student in reading or math and make a lasting difference in that child's life, all from the comfort of their home or office."

Children Rising's online tutoring model was designed at a pivotal time to meet the needs of under-served schools struggling with distance learning. Since schools closed their doors in March 2020, the achievement gap in schools serving our lowest-income communities has widened. The Oakland Undivided Campaign, a partnership between the Mayor's office of education, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), the Oakland Public Education Fund and Tech Exchange, made dramatic strides toward closing the digital divide. Online tutoring is made possible by student access to technology and provides long-term enrichment to proven one-on-one programs.

Online tutoring allows Children Rising to extend its reach in several ways. Students in need of additional instruction will now be able to receive tutoring outside of school hours and throughout the summer. In addition, the ability to support parents in coaching their child, as well as provide access to educational tools, is a significant program enrichment.

"Trained, caring tutors are still key to empowering children to rise to their potential, and now our amazing tutors are available online," Wambach explains. "This is not a temporary fix. This is an enhancement. We recognized this unique opportunity so that when we return to the classroom, we will be better prepared to support and empower the students, their families, and our school partners."

About Children Rising
Children Rising is an Oakland-based 501C(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001. The agency empowers children attending public schools most affected by poverty, violence and educational inequity by raising awareness and rallying community support for their needs; and by galvanizing and guiding volunteers to teach, mentor, and nourish the children so they may develop academic and life skills to realize their God-given potential. Children Rising offers an array of services to under-resourced public schools in four program areas - CareerBridge, Health4Kids, Path2Math, and Succeeding by Reading. More information can be found at www.Children-Rising.org.