AARP Experience Corps is hosted in Port Arthur/Beaumont is hosted by the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission. AARP Experience Corps members provide one-on-one tutoring for students on a kindergarten, first-, second- or third-grade reading level. Members also encourage parents to be involved in their child's education and provide opportunities for parents to be active in school activities. AARP Experience Corps volunteer members receive extensive training in tutoring and motivational techniques, a monthly incentive to defray any costs associated their service and the appreciation from the community, school leaders and students.
The South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC) is a voluntary association of local governments that serves an area composed of Hardin, Jefferson and Orange counties. The planning commission was established in June 1970 under authority provided by the Texas legislature in 1965. SETRPC is one of 24 regional planning councils that serve all of Texas.
Program Launch
Port Arthur: 1995
Beaumont: 2008
Program Data (2011-2012 school year)
Students served: 581
Volunteer members: 70
Hours logged: 18,859
Schools/centers served: 14
Program Impact
In the 2011-2012 school year:
- 98 percent of teachers rated AARP Experience Corps volunteer members as being good or excellent in their overall quality of assistance
- Of the 96 percent of students whose overall reading skills were rated as being below grade level at the beginning of the year, 57 percent were rated as having improved by the end of the year
- 95 percent of volunteer members were satisfied with the guidance they received from AARP Experience Corps site coordinators and staff
Contact:
Stephanie Lartigue-Pearson
AARP Experience Corps Director
Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission
877-802-2200, ext. 7509
spearson@setrpc.org
