Thank you for your interest in Augustine Literacy Project (ALP)!
Augustine Literacy Project – Charlotte was founded in 2005 by Adele Hagood and Candace Armstrong with the support of the Rector and Vestry of St. Peter’s Espicopal Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. ALP-Charlotte is one of 15 independent ALP sites. The project began in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 1994 and has grown to include sites in North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.
ALP uses the Orton-Gillingham approach and ALP materials. Orton-Gillingham is a multi-sensory, explicit, systematic approach to reading instruction that has been effective with students who struggle with literacy for a variety of reasons.
Tutor Training
ALP tutors take a training class which includes a practicum during which the trainee evaluates a student, then teaches three consecutive Augustine lessons under the supervision of an ALP coach. The course is taught by a team of experienced trainers who present topics such as: the Orton-Gillingham approach, the five essential components of research-based reading instruction (phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension), the impact of poverty on literacy skills, the brain and reading, sight words, handwriting, advocacy and more.
Tutor Commitment
Tutors agree to provide a minimum of 60 sessions of free tutoring to a under-resourced child who is struggling with reading. Tutoring sessions take place twice a week, usually during the school day, and last approximately 45 minutes. Most tutors continue tutoring beyond the required 60 sessions.
Tutor Support
When training is completed tutors feel empowered to make a difference in the life of a child. But the training class is just the beginning! Tutors are invited to attend monthly ALP Learning Collaboratives where they receive ongoing training on a variety of topics and connect with other tutors. ALP staff observe all new tutors and provide ongoing coaching and support. Tutors who volunteer at an ALP partner school have access to on-site resources, controlled readers and read-aloud books.
ALP Students
ALP staff work with school teachers and literacy facilitators to match students with tutors. Students are typically in first- or second-grade when they are matched with an Augustine tutor. Students must be:
- under-resourced, qualifying for free or reduced price lunch; and
- approximately a year below grade level reading.
ALP is committed to providing caring, highly-trained tutors for children whose families cannot afford to pay for private tutoring or special programs.
Our Mission
The mission of ALP is to improve the reading, writing, and spelling skills of young, aspiring readers in under-resourced communities by providing free, long-term, one-on-one instruction from highly trained tutors.