Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching & Service
Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching & Service

DC Reads

Tutoring in the DC Reads program at Neval Thomas Elementary
Fall 2023 – DC Reads Tutor Sign Up Form

Georgetown DC Reads is a tutoring, mentoring, and advocacy program that serves K-5th grade students who are a grade level or more behind in literacy skills. The program began in 1997 as the University’s response to the passage of the America Reads Act, a literacy initiative established to improve reading proficiency for all elementary students by engaging college students as volunteer and Federal Work Study-funded tutors. A team of student coordinators lead the program through which 100+ Georgetown students a semester have weekly tutoring commitments East of the River in Washington, DC.

Our Model

Each semester, 100+ Georgetown students serve as literacy tutors to public school students and families during morning classroom support, afterschool, and Saturday tutoring sessions East of the River in Washington, DC.

Morning Classroom Support

During morning sessions, Georgetown DC Reads tutors serve as in-class teaching assistants to elementary school teachers or lead their own small group pull-out sessions for students who benefit from a lower student-teacher ratio.

Afterschool and Saturday Tutoring

During afterschool and Saturday sessions, Georgetown DC Reads tutors follow a targeted step by step lesson plan, work with their tutees to identify appropriate learning goals, modify lesson plans to align with those goals, and track progress towards those goals.

Program-Wide Services & Supports

In addition to classroom support services and tutoring, Georgetown DC Reads also engages families and enriches the learning experience through library visits, field trips, campus celebrations, and family literacy events.

Campus-based Programming

GU DC Reads holds events with campus partners during the academic year to broaden the Georgetown University community conversation about literacy disparities and education reform among other issues.

Opportunities to Get Involved

Georgetown University Students

Tutors typically commit to tutor twice a week on a M/W or T/TH schedule. Each session requires roughly three hours, including van transportation to and from site. Tutors are matched with individual students or small groups based on the tutor’s preferences and experience, as well as program and community needs. No prior teaching or tutoring experience is required. Georgetown DC Reads provides pre-service training and ongoing support to new and experienced tutors alike. 

Questions about the program can be directed to CSJ Assistant Director for Educational Equity Programs, Noelle Gipson, at dcreads@georgetown.edu.

School and Community Partners

During the 2022-23 school year, Georgetown DC Reads program provides literacy services at the following locations:

​If you are interested in a partnership with Georgetown DC Reads or have any additional questions about the program, contact the CSJ Assistant Director for Educational Equity Programs at dcreads@georgetown.edu.

Caregivers and Families

If you are interested in signing your child up for Georgetown DC Reads or have any questions about the program, please contact CSJ Assistant Director for Educational Equity Programs at dcreads@georgetown.edu.

The DC Reads Program falls under Georgetown University’s Protection of Minors policy.