The DeKalb County Human Services Department is recruiting volunteers to participate in a new tutoring program designed to help DeKalb students improve literacy skills.

The program, AARP Experience Corps, is an evidence-based literacy initiative aimed at enhancing reading skills of children in kindergarten through third grade who are behind by at least two grade levels.

Recent data shows that DeKalb students on average have a reading proficiency of 26 percent, which means that 74 percent of students are reading below grade level.

The Human Services Department is hosting informational sessions at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Stonecrest, GA 30058, at 11:30 a.m. on the following days:

Wednesday, Aug. 14

Thursday, Aug. 15

Wednesday, Aug. 21

Thursday, Aug. 22

The tutoring program will begin on Oct. 21, 2019, and will follow the DeKalb County School District 2019-2020 calendar. Participating schools include Stoneview Elementary, Murphy Candler Elementary, E.L. Miller Elementary and Redan Elementary.

Volunteers must be at least 50 years old and have a high school diploma or G.E.D to participate. 

AARP Experience Corps is a national program that has produced positive mental and physical health benefits for older adult volunteers.

The Human Services Department is working in collaboration with the United Way of Greater Atlanta, the AARP Foundation and the DeKalb County School District on this initiative.