Who are the tutor-learner pairs?
Probationers are screened and referred by the probation department. All probationers in the tutoring program are non-violent offenders, with 65% on probation for a DUI. They all are supervised by an assigned probation officer. Once Literacy DuPage receives the learner referral, we follow our processes and procedures to conduct and complete the learner's registration and pre-test for placement.
After the learner is matched with a tutor, they identify short- and long-term goals specific to the learner's needs. The tutor develops lessons and activities that increase the learner's communicative skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and helps them achieve their goals.
This unique approach assists the learner in everyday navigation and communication as a parent, employee, and community member. An additional benefit to the learner is that they receive community service credit hours after completing 35 or more tutoring hours with a Literacy DuPage tutor.
Literacy DuPage tutors working with a probationer attend a brief orientation session led by the probation department prior to their learner match. Here they learn about the department’s screening and referral process, the types of probationers who are referred, and they can ask questions and share their concerns.