September 2008 Hall of Fame
Free Tutoring for At-Risk Youth
Our program provides tutoring free of charge to students from low-income familes in underresourced areas. We believe in teaching students in a manner in which they gain an appreciation and love for learning and are able to apply skills not only in the classroom but also in the real world.
Q1: Please post any creative, fun, or interesting lessons (elementary and middle school math or reading/language arts, any high school subject). 
Idea Description
Our youth are in desperate need of improved education, positive role models, and constructive outlets. A Teach for America Alumnus created a positive program that pairs highly-educated, creative, and passionate tutors with at-risk students in 11 counties surrounding metro Atlanta to provide one-on-one instruction in core subjects. In addition to improving students' academics, we strive to ensure that students are well-rounded. Volunteer efforts, youth forums, and periodic social events are held to provide students with the opportunity to be involved in the community, positively relate to peers, and build self-confidence. Students also receive free books and scholarship opportunities.
What will you do if you win $10,000 for this idea?
1) purchasing tutorial books and school supplies to provide to students free of charge
2) setting up scholarship funds for the current learning needs and future educational opportunities of students
3) tutor trainings and workshops
4) constructive youth events and activities as well as workshops relative to arts, culture, and business
5) rewards for students showing tremendous improvement and tutors contributing greatly to student achievement
6) non-profit establishment
7) operations and marketing
Thank you for your assistance in supporting our vision.
You like it. You’re confused by it. You want to know more. Ask questions and post comments here.
Post a commentI like your idea; I want to improve your odds of getting funding I will vote for your idea if you will vote for mine. My idea is for a web site that raises money for inventors and entrepreneurs called New Idea website Check out my idea blob submission and visit New Idea Website and see what I can do for you. http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/4060-NEW-IDEA-WEBSITE The need for jobs is one of the biggest problems that a democratic government faces because creating jobs is an unwanted byproduct of business and industry. The reason I say its unwanted is the more jobs a business creates the more its expenses are and the smaller it’s bottom-line. If business and industry have their way they would run their companies with no jobs at all no management or labor. To deal with this dilemma I pr…moreopose a federal venture capital carrot fund that literally pays entrepreneurs to create jobs. The investment bank would be expected invest in seed level startup projects like yours and to lose money at a specified dollar per jobs ratio for example during hard times that figure may be as high as $20,000 per job and good times the figure may be as low as five dollars per job, by controlling this ratio the fed could roughly control unemployment. The bank will be expected to fund novel products and services and stay away from things like restaurants that will simply draw jobs from other restaurants or moving factories from one part of the country to another. If you like this idea vote for it and send the congressional letter from the website. Sincerely Frank Scruggs
We will begin within the next two weeks and are approved by the Georgia Department of Education to provide services in 11 counties surrounding metro Atlanta.
Your idea sounds great. I believe that a tutor can be more than just someone that helps with school work, but someone that can inspire a child to do well in all aspects of life. Coming from LAUSD schools, programs like this one will do well in low-income communities. Do you have an idea where you are going to start this program?
Thats sounds really excellent! Thank you for your fast response and good luck!
That's really a great idea! I think students from low-income families definitely need help in both. On the one hand a help to learn better, that they are keep up with other students and on the other hand a help to increase their skills in the real world. Do you intend to expand this idea through hole america? if so, in which states exactly?
We do plan on expanding. However, this is our first year with the free tutoring program in 11 counties surrounding metro Atlanta. Once things are running smoothly in this area and we have enough funding and personnel, we will expand state-wide. Within a few years, we plan to branch out into other states that are receptive to the program and where we are able to locate individuals who are able to effectively operate the program with the children's best interests in mind. Thank you for the comment!
Great one which I think could attract many funds through donations. It would be a noble and very effective tool in improving these kids' education.
Most parents (who are actually aware of the program) think it is wonderful; a few seem to not be as committed (i.e. not showing up for sessions, canceling because of sports practice, etc.)-- things they more than likely would NOT do if they were paying for the service out of their own pockets. However, the majority of them are still unaware of the program. Only about 12-13% of students eligible to receive the free services even enroll; therefore, a lot of funding is needed for mass marketing. We are just starting with the free tutoring program in 11 counties surrounding metro Atlanta. Once everything is flowing smoothly here, we do plan to branch out to other states. Hopefully, with great success, other countries will be an option as well. Thank you for your support.
I think this is a great idea. What was the response of the public to your launching? I think that there should be many programs like yours around the world to help the underdeveloped countries. Countries such as Latin America are in great need of such programs. I hope you have considered or are considering expansion.
Great stuff, everyone should vote for you as I do
yes we need to do anythjing we can to our young people
I tutor high school math and science and definitely that if parents had access to free tutoring they would take advantage of it and the Graduation Test rate would increase. Keep up the good work. Bonita
Di Yonna, also check out http://groupexcellence.org/ a free tutoring service started by Benjamin Bhatti, TFA alum in Dallas. Benjamin managed to get GE become a state certified supllemental education provider which opened up a lot of funding channels. You should talk to him. Good luck - you are doing great work!
Students who qualify come from low-income homes in underresourced areas who also attend schools in Needs Improvement status. "Low-income" is determined by whether or not the student qualifies for free/reduced lunch, which is based on the family's annual household income vs. the number of members in the household.
This is amazing! I work with a non-profit that serves low income and at-risk youth and I can say that there is not enough out there for them. This makes me excited and I only wish I were closer so I could volunteer. Out of curiosity, how do you define "at-risk?" Is it case-by-case or do you go by Department of Human Services definitions?
This is a wonderful idea. There are so many talented children that get "left behind" or just pushed through the system never having the opportunity to excel though they have it within. This is a great way to teach as well as inspire those children that feel they have no options...if no one cares why should they?
This is a fantastic idea. There is such a great need for the youth to get help so that they can just soar.
Vision Tutoring
Do you have a name for your project?
We have provided tutoring service for years; however, our free tutoring program will launch August 2008. We will be servicing sudents in 11 different counties (surrounding metro Atlanta). Thank you for your suggestions; we will definitely consider them.
There is definitely a need for free tutoring for at-risk youth. Is your program already running? If so, where is it located? if not, where would you run your pilot program? On another note, there have been many ideas posted on ideablob aimed at helping at risk youth. Search around, use the related ideas section on the right tool bar, and see if you can collaborate and learn from similar minded ideas. Great idea and goodluck in your quest to educate the people who need it the most!