Schools of Hope - Sonoma County

tutor with child            

When kids can't read, they can't succeed.

Currently in Sonoma County 54% of third grade students are reading below proficiency levels. The goal of Schools of Hope is to raise the third-grade reading proficiency to at least 90% by 2020 as a result of establishing strong reading skills in our children. One-on-one tutoring by trained community volunteers is the centerpiece to the strategy to increase early literacy as studies show a child reading with an adult is one of the most effective ways to increase reading skills.

Evidence of a deepening achievement gap in Sonoma County include:

  • 46% of third grade students are reading at or above standard proficiency levels.
  • 79% of third grade students who are also English language learners tested below proficiency in reading.
  • Fewer than 80% of ninth-graders graduate from high school in four years. This means less than one-fourth of our students are not completing high school with their grade level peers.
  • Among socioeconomically disadvantaged youth, 55.2% of students who entered ninth grade in 2002 dropped out before graduation.      

Frequently Asked Questions
Schools of Hope Program FAQs
Schools of Hope Volunteer FAQs
Schools of Hope Volunteer Roles & Responsibilites

Become a Volunteer Tutor
Responsibilities of a Schools of Hope volunteer tutor include:

  • A commitment to a minimum of 1 hour per week during the school year, but more is better (and even more  rewarding). There will also be a pool of substitute tutors available when necessary.
  • Attend one tutor training on literacy skills and strategies
  • Assist children in reading, writing and other literacy based skills starting with first grade students
  • Complete a tutor log following each session
  • Direct questions to the volunteer coordinator at your school

To learn more about becoming a volunteer tutor, attend a required Schools of Hope Volunteer Orientation where you will be given an overview of the program and learn about the volunteer standards for working in schools.

Volunteer orientations for Santa Rosa schools are held at the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa (located at 153 Stony Cr., Ste. 100). Upcoming volunteer orientations will be posted below as they become available.

Please contact Barbara Fisher at 707.573.3399 x122 or by emailing bfisher@volunteernow.org for more information about the upcoming orientation sessions and trainings.

Tier3

2011-2012 Participating Pilot Sonoma County Elementary Schools

Brook Hill
James Monroe
McDowell
Robert L. Stevens
Roseland
Spring Creek
Steele Lane
Taylor Mountain
Yulupa

2010-2011 Participating Pilot Sonoma County Elementary Schools
Brook Hill
Robert L. Stevens
Roseland
Spring Creek
Taylor Mountain
Yulupa

Sonoma County Schools of Hope Advisory Committee
 Gail Ahlas, Roseland School District
Victor Assad, Medtronic
Matt Benney, Sonoma State University
Efren Carrillo, County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Pam Chanter, Vantreo
Oscar Chavez, Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County
Jonathan Coe, Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce
Casey D'Angelo, Wright School District
Sue Field, Bennett Valley School District
Karen Fies, County of Sonoma Human Services Department
Barbara Hughes, Community Foundation of Sonoma County
Susan Jarvin, Kaiser Permanente
Sharon Liddell, Santa Rosa City Schools
Kimberley Messina, Santa Rosa Junior College
Diane Moresi, Rincon Valley School District
Cynthia Murray, North Bay Leadership Council
Bill Nordskog, United Way Volunteer
Tony Roeherick, Bellevue School District
Lisa Schaffner, Sonoma County Alliance
Jennie Tasheff, FIRST 5 Sonoma County
Eunice Valentine, Volunteer Center of Sonoma County
Kirk Veale, Veale Investment
Jeff Weber, Agilent Technologies
Carl Wong, Sonoma County Office of Education

Sonoma County Schools of Hope Partners:
United Way of the Wine Country
Bellevue Union School District
Bennett Valley Union School District
Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County
Community Foundation of Sonoma County
FIRST 5 Sonoma County
Rincon Valley Union School District
Roseland School District
Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce
Santa Rosa City Elementary School District
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Sonoma County Office of Education
Volunteer Center of Sonoma County
Wright School District