Buena Vista Tutorial Program
"With federal legislative requirements of No Child Left Behind and now Race to the Top, our schools are focused on continuing to strive to improve student performance. The Buena Vista Tutorial Program is a crucial component in our participating schools' intervention programs, affording many of our students the extra reading and learning support they need to meet academic standards."
- Rose Lock, Assistant Superintendent of Schools,
Elementary Education, Mt. Diablo Unified School District
"Buena Vista Auxiliary's investment in the community has transformed the lives of countless children by giving them access to the world through reading."
- Susan A. Bonilla, Contra Costa County Supervisor
Overview
Participating students receive tutoring through the Buena Vista Tutorial Program
In 1993, Buena Vista Auxiliary created its first philanthropic project, the Buena Vista Tutorial Program. This program was created to address the need for supplemental reading opportunities in local school districts. The program, administered to elementary school students in the Mount Diablo Unified and Walnut Creek school districts, is designed to be a high-impact, early intervention reading program.
Originally launched at Meadow Homes Elementary School in Concord, 12 children participated in that first year. Since then, over 3,000 children in Contra Costa County have been served. Currently, 11 elementary schools in the Mount Diablo Unified and Walnut Creek school districts participate in our program.
The program fills a huge need as state and federal funds are cut from schools and language arts resources are dramatically reduced.
Program Benefits
"The Buena Vista Tutorial Program has drastically improved the lives and futures of so many students. Our principal counts it as one of the best interventions we have... The students are thrilled and proud and learn to love reading instead of dreading it."
- Connie Miller, Liaison, Sun Terrace Elementary School
Buena Vista Auxiliary members hand out books and educational supplies to students at Celebration party
The Buena Vista Tutorial Program targets children who read below grade level, but do not qualify for government-funded reading programs. The benefits include:
- Children who would otherwise fall through the cracks get reading assistance at no cost to schools or families;
- The participants' unique reading and learning needs are addressed with customized curriculum and a low student/tutor ratio (2:1);
- Credentialed teacher tutors can be immediately effective because they select participants they already know and teach in a familiar on-site setting;
- Significant improvements are made with the personalized attention participants receive in 16 one-hour sessions for a four to six-week period;
- Students gain confidence in showcasing their new reading skills to family and friends during celebration parties, gatherings that mark the end of the session;
- The program fosters students' continued interest in, and access to, reading and learning with gifts of books and school supplies;
- Teachers and school administrators stay focused on the children, while Buena Vista Auxiliary administers the program.
Results
"Every student I've tutored through the Buena Vista Tutorial Program who was on my retention list has exceeded expectations and made it off the list. With this program, reading haters become confident reading lovers!"
- Eric Vandetta, Tutor, Holbrook Elementary School
"Over the last seven years, our API scores have gone from 395 to almost 700. The Buena Vista Tutorial Program has had a lot to do with that success...It is truly transformational to see the increase in confidence and self-esteem in the tutored children."
- Carol Benninghoven, Liaison and Tutor, Ygnacio Valley Elementary
"With just 16 hours of tutoring, Edgar went from reading at a level 4 to a level 14, his grade level!"
- Denise Murphy, Tutor, Sun Terrace Elementary School
"Madiha and Maddi love to read now! They cannot put their books down and often apologize for reading ahead. THIS IS EXCITING!"
- Erin Carson, Tutor, Indian Valley Elementary School
As a direct result of the program, 95% of participating children show significant improvement in their reading skills, self-confidence and self esteem. In 2007, Buena Vista Auxiliary received an Outstanding Service Award from the Mount Diablo Unified School District.
Since 1993, when the Buena Vista Tutorial Program began, Buena Vista Auxiliary has:
- Served 3,035 children in Contra Costa County;
- Raised over $1,000,000;
- Provided over 38,000 hours of tutoring;
- Given almost 8,300 books to participants;
- Volunteered 46,000 hours to support the program.
Participating Schools
- Bel Air, Bay Point
- Cambridge, Concord
- El Monte, Concord
- Holbrook, Concord
- Indian Valley, Walnut Creek
- Meadow Homes, Concord
- Pleasant Hill Elementary, Pleasant Hill
- Shore Acres, Bay Point
- Sun Terrace, Concord
- Wren Avenue, Concord
- Ygnacio Valley, Concord
