Foundations Tutoring’s Origin
In September 2001, Special Education teacher Christina Clark launched a volunteer tutor program at Valley View Elementary School in Pleasanton, CA. This program, known as the PUSD Barton Reading Program, paired carefully selected at-risk students with well-trained volunteer tutors. These tutors provided three hours of one-on-one instruction per week using the Barton System of Reading and Spelling.
Unprecedented Success
The Barton Reading Program achieved remarkable results. Standardized reading data from the Gray Oral Reading Test-4 showed unprecedented success: elementary students in the program gained an average of 34 percentile points in just
five months of tutoring. Middle and high school students improved by an average of two grade levels within the same period.
Expansion and Challenges
Over the years, the program expanded from one to seven schools, serving over 150 students in grades 1-12 by spring 2012. However, due to budget constraints and district-wide reorganization, the program’s future became uncertain. By fall 2012, the program was significantly reduced, serving only a small fraction of its former student base.
The Birth of Foundations Tutoring
In response to the program’s downsizing, the four facilitators from the now-eliminated school program came together in spring 2013 to continue providing effective literacy instruction through a private business model. Thus, Foundations Tutoring was established to carry forward the successful intervention methods and support more students in need.