Tutoring Opportunities
Educational Advocacy
Youth in foster care are often several grade levels behind their peers. Intensive, remedial academic support can bolster a student’s confidence in the school setting and enable them to catch up to their classmates.
COMMUNITY-BASED TUTORING
To find tutoring opportunities, a CASA should first look to the youth’s community. Contact the Foster Youth Liaison at their school to inquire about school-based options or special district programs for foster youth. Research the local library, Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, academic enrichment nonprofits, etc. to find local tutoring programs. Ask the youth’s caregiver about existing tutoring opportunities available in the neighborhood.
SFUSD’s Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program provides free tutorial services to SFUSD students in foster care. Tutoring will be provided at the school site during or after-school or virtually, as needed. Students receive two hours of tutoring per week. Please complete the FYSCP Tutor Request Form. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Ling Busche at buschel@sfusd.edu.
FREE REMOTE TUTORING
If there are no accessible in-person options (or the youth prefers remote support), take advantage of our remote tutoring partners:
Learn to Be is a free remote tutoring service that supports students in grades K-12 in math, reading, writing, and English. All of the tutoring is done through an online classroom platform by volunteer tutors. Once enrolled, a student’s caregiver (or CASA) can have access to a portal that shares the attendance record of the youth, the post-session evaluations, and tutor notes. All tutors who are 18 or older are fully background-checked and receive support from the LTB tutor online community.
To enroll: use our customized enrollment link: SFCASA Learn to Be Enrollment. Be sure to specify that you need a tutor who is 18+.
Jewish Coalition for Literacy (JCL) serves students in grades K-5 by matching struggling readers with an adult tutor. JCL tutors undergo initial training and receive ongoing education from literacy trainers. All tutors have passed background checks mandated by school districts in the Bay Area.
The JCL model centers on tutors and students reading aloud to one another, with a focus on building reading fluency and comprehension. Tutors tap into their creativity and life experience to sustain students’ attention and spur their progress. Students typically raise their reading level by one grade level across an academic year when working with JCL. Many students are English Language Learners.
Currently, tutoring is conducted online. Tutors often meet youth through Zoom, although some use FaceTime or other platforms and are willing to connect by phone if needed.
To enroll: email Nieema Galloway. Let her know that you are a volunteer with SFCASA.
Andromeda Math Partners delivers free, high-quality virtual math tutoring to 8th through 12th graders, targeting students from low-income families in the SF Bay Area. Ideally, we like to plug students into our program at 8th or 9th grade when students are just getting started with Pre-algebra and/or Algebra 1, and then our intention is to continue supporting students through all their math courses required to graduate high school (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2/Trig).
Our New Student Registration Form is available and English and Spanish.
All current Andromeda Math Partners students have received a personalized email with a link they can use to renew for our Spring session if they'd like to. We already had the two CASA students we have been serving since Spring of 2023 renew their registration again for the Spring 2024 semester!
FOR-PROFIT TUTORING
Finally, if necessary, research for-profit tutoring centers in the youth’s area. Ask the tutoring center if they offer waivers, financial aid, or discounted rates for youth in care. Request financial support from the youth’s social worker. Work with your Case Supervisor to apply for a grant.