Grades 5-12

We empower teens to build skills for their futures, meet other teens in their neighborhoods, and make a positive impact in their communities, all while earning community service hours or a paycheck. Serving as a tutor prepares our teens to succeed in college and future jobs.

Under the supervision of teachers, our tutors:

• Learn how to teach young children basic reading skills
• Develop self-confidence, patience and pride
• Build job skills, such as communication and responsibility
• Build their college portfolios
• Can earn promotions to Lead Tutor, supporting their peers and helping teachers with program implementation
• Can receive community service letters to include with college applications

After-school Jobs

New York City teens over the age of 14 are eligible to apply for paid tutoring jobs. Selected teens attend a 2.5 hour after-school training to learn our curriculum, how to work with young children, and the expectations of a paid job. Trained teens volunteer for three afternoons and then become paid tutors, working 1.5 hours after-school, three or four days each week, for five to six months.

After-school Volunteer Opportunities

New York City teens under the age of 14 are invited to become volunteer tutors. Volunteers receive the same training and experience while earning community service hours and building applications to competitive colleges.

Summer Jobs

Our summer programs take place at schools throughout New York City from 8:30 am until noon, four or five days each week, for five or six weeks in July and August. In addition to tutoring children in reading, tutors have the opportunity to help with art and writing projects. Teens submit an online application and attend a training to develop tutoring skills. School year tutors are given preference for summer job placement.

Build Your Future

Read Alliance also provides many of our standout tutors with additional college and career preparation with the Build Your Future summer program, a series of workshops and field trips that culminates with a career fair.