PEI Literacy Alliance expanding tutoring program

The PEI Literacy Alliance is extending its free summer tutoring program into the new year.

The program is currently only offered for eight weeks during the summer, but beginning this fall, it will be offered throughout the school year.

"It's been so successful, and we know that the need is there, you know, based on us having wait lists every summer. And so we're going to try and do it during the school year and hopefully support parents and teachers more," said executive director Jinny Greaves.

The groupexpanded its literacy camps in 2017, offering them on seven PD days throughout the school year. This year's expansion will offer students weekly tutoring sessions.

Rotary funding

The Alliance has been running its one-on-one tutoring program for nearly 20 years. Greavessaidthe alliance currently works with 800 students in the summer. With the expansion, the aim is totutor another 800 through the school year.

"We hope to be able to say by next yearannuallywe work with 1,600 children. That's the vision. That's the goal," Greaves said.

The locations for the programhaven't been announced yet, but it will be offered at libraries in four communities across the province.

The Rotary Literacy Foundation contributed $40,000 to the pilot project. The Literacy Alliance alsoput in some of its own money and some funding came from United Way of P.E.I. and the province.

The organization hopes to have the tutors hired by the end of October.

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With files from Stephanie Kelly