Cheryl Opper

Founder & Executive Director

508-587-9091 Cheryl@sowma.org

www.sowma.org

Providing academic support for children impacted by homelessness.

In this presentation…

• Background and description of School on Wheels of Massachusetts (SOWMA)

• Logistics of beginning and maintaining a program site

• SOWMA programs in action

“Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead

The mission of School on Wheels is to educate children impacted by

homelessness by providing academic support and one-on-one mentoring

so children can reach their full potential.

Description of SOWMA

• 501©3 non-profit tax-exempt organization

• Goal: to provide academic support services for homeless children– 1-on-1 tutoring for children pre-k through grade 12– Backpacks and school supplies year round– Educational support and guidance for families– School Advocacy for parents– Preschool Readiness program– High School Plus program

History• 1993: Agnes Stevens, the original Founder of School on Wheels

set out to help homeless children enroll in school and make sure they had the same resources and support systems as their classmates. Agnes informed parents of their rights concerning the McKinney Vento Act. She drove the families to the schools to help them enroll. She provided bus passes, uniforms and school supplies and she set up one-on-one tutoring for homeless children in grades K-12 by using trained community volunteers. – In 1993 Agnes began with 2 tutors in Santa Monica, California.

Currently they serve 6 regions in Southern California with 1000 tutors.

• 2001: Sally Bindley founded School on Wheels Corp. in Indianapolis, Indiana.

• 2004: Cheryl Opper founded School on Wheels of Massachusetts

Tutors… Heartbeat of the Program

• Recruit tutors by talking with college community service offices, schools in your area, churches, temples, and friends! Word can travel fast!

• Train new tutors using the SOWMA training manual highlighting homelessness, life in a shelter, effective tutoring, and SOWMA policies and procedures.

• Retain your tutors with ongoing support, ongoing communication, tutor workshops lead by other tutors, tutor newsletter, discussions, and tutor appreciation events to keep them excited and energized!

School Supplies and Backpacks• Each child receives a new backpack filled with school

supplies and books appropriate for their grade level when they first move into one of our program sites. Supplies are provided throughout the year including school project materials. SOWMA works with the school homeless liaison to pay for the children’s school fees such as school pictures, class field trips, band, chorus and sports fees.

• Try to use community resources to run school supply drives to cut down or eliminate the cost of backpacks, books and school supplies.– Local businesses– Civic Organizations: Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, etc.– Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts– Bar/Bat Mitzvah service projects– Schools, libraries, churches– Book stores

Fundraising… raising funds and awareness

• Seek out individual donations from family, friends, colleagues, community members

• Support from churches, temples, civic organizations

• Companies Caring for Kids – Corporate Partners

• Yard Sales – Grassroots - 100 Families Challenge

• Grants

Be creative!

One-on-One Tutoring• Weekly tutoring sessions after school at program sites.• Tutor brings “tutoring bag” with educational activities

based on student’s interests and needs.• Individualized tutoring boxes using the state’s

Curriculum Frameworks so tutor is aware of grade level skills.

• Site Coordinator manages tutoring at program site – Assures students are ready for session when tutor arrives– Helps with registration for new children– Assists with student/tutor matches when a student isn’t there– Supports tutors with encouragement and learning activities– Liaison between shelter staff, tutors, families, children and

SOWMA Program Director• Site Coordinator sends a tutoring report to SOWMA Program

Director and shelter staff so tutoring hours are documented and staff is aware of the student’s educational needs and request for supplies.

Family Read-Aloud Program

• Family Reading Program for young children ages 3-8 and their parents to promote daily reading as a family

• Similar to library “Story Hour” programs

• Parent information about helping children read is handed out to parents. Great reading literature is available for free at: National Institute for Literacy

• Reading incentives – for every 5 books you read you will receive a new book bag, hang reading chart in shelter.

• At each Read Aloud session all the children (every age) receive a new book so families can build their own library to take with them when they move out of the shelter.

Parent Workshops and Support

• M&Ms of Helping Your Child Succeed in School– Check backpack each day– Communicate with teachers– Look at homework assignments– Keep important documents organized and in a special folder

• Advocacy in schools– Parents sign release form for SOWMA staff to talk to child’s

teacher at school to provide more information for tutors. Assist parents in making sure all school records are transferred to new school and IEP plan is in place when the family moves.

– SOWMA staff helps parents get involved at their child’s school and advocate for their child’s education by setting up and attending parent/teacher meetings.

Preschool Readiness Program• One Book at a Time Preschool Box – The Very Hungry Caterpillar -

Teachers designed learning activities around a specific book that addresses: colors, shapes, counting, letters, reading, fine motor skills, and vocabulary.

• Group leader reads the book while each child holds their own book to follow along. Every child in the group has their own tutor to help them stay focused, turn the pages and recognize objects on each page. After the leader finishes the story, the group does an activity together around the book that involves a school readiness skill.

• Group leader coordinates activity around the book for the first 30 minutes and the last 20 minutes each child works with their tutor . The tutor and student can use the individualized tutoring boxes or go over to the play area set up by Horizons and work on social skills, such as interacting with others, sharing, taking turns, listening to others etc.

• Individual customized tutoring boxes are designed for young children and tutors to work on school readiness skills using the pre-K through Kindergarten state frameworks curriculum. Each box has a wipe off board, marker, activity workbooks, books, flashcards, writing materials and paper.

• One-on-One tutoring for children ages 3 -6 for one hour on a 2nd night.

High School Plus Program

• This program offers guidance and assistance to students impacted by homelessness who will be graduating from high school or completing their GED and are interested in continuing their education.

• The Student Advocate meets with the student to learn about his or her educational goals and interests.

• The student is connected with colleges and universities, certificate and vocational programs, as well as other local agencies.

• The Student Advocate helps with the application process, including SAT registration, financial aid, college visits, and scholarship opportunities.

• School on Wheels can assist with school fees, cost of books and college housing deposits, etc.

• Once a student is enrolled in the High School Plus Program, School on Wheels will continue to support them throughout their educational career.

~ helping students continue their education beyond high school ~

School on Wheels

When you change one life, you change the world!