America Reads Challenge

To be eligible for a Federal Work Study award, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  For more information, contact the UF Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships One Stop page. 

Apply at UF Careers to become an America Reads tutor.  We will contact you if positions become available.  

Once the initial application has been approved, the tutor must complete and pass a background screening before work can begin.  The background screening process can take up to three weeks.  The UF America Reads program pays for the background screening.  

In addition, work study tutors must be enrolled in UF courses at least half-time.  Final enrollment for a term is determined at the end of drop/add. The hour requirements may be found at:  https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/process/receivingyour-aid/enrollment-requirements/. 

Students must also maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for undergraduate students and 3.0 for graduate students to meet eligibility requirements for receiving work study and working with the America Reads program.

The starting pay for undergraduate America Reads tutors is $16 per hour.  The starting pay for graduate students is commensurate with education and experience and is determined on an individual basis.  Periodic merit increases are available to enthusiastic, long-term employees who complete all required training.

America Reads tutors work with students in off-campus UF America Reads partnership schools, agencies, and community-based programs throughout Alachua County.  

Transportation to sites is not provided by the America Reads programs.  Tutors must independently access a reliable form of transportation to site placements. 

Tutors must be available to work a consistent schedule with a minimum of three hours per day, two days per week, Monday-Friday, between the hours of 2:00-6:00pm. 

Hours available to work will depend on the amount of your financial aid work study award each semester and your class schedule. A maximum of 20 hours per week is permitted.  Students may work up to 31 hours a week with the approved completion of an Hours Extension Petition. 

Tutors complete a schedule request form indicating all times that the tutor is available to work each week as part of the application process for the America Reads program.  This schedule is then coordinated with requests from community partners. 

Some students may have more than one FWS job. The combined hours of all jobs may not exceed the limits listed above.

Tutors are not required to work when UF is not in session, during UF reading days, or during final exams. Additionally, tutors should not report to work if they are sick. Tutors are expected to inform UFLI America Reads coordinators and site-based coordinators about any expected, or unexpected absences.

Students’ ages range from kindergarten to fifth grade (aged 5-11). All students have been identified by their teachers as needing extra help in reading. 

This will vary and is dependent upon your availability.  The average tutoring session per student is 30-45 minutes long.

No experience is needed to be an America Reads tutor, just a willingness to learn from, help, and engage with UF faculty and staff, children, other tutors, and site-based staff in our local community. Tutors may be enrolled in any UF degree-seeking program. 

Tutors must be motivated, resourceful, dependable, and willing to engage with children in an educational environment.  A commitment to working in racially, ethnically, and economically diverse communities is a must.

Tutors must complete mandatory, paid trainings upon acceptance to the program and throughout the semester. 

In addition to individualized and/or small group planning and tutoring at your designated placement, you are expected to attend mandatory training sessions on topics that will assist you in your tutoring experiences. Topics are inspired both by the needs vocalized by our site partners, tutors, and are those backed by research and evidenced-based best practices in literacy.  

Tutors are not permitted to engage in site-based activities that are not linked to academic goals, e.g. clerical activities, housekeeping activities, playground supervision.  

Undergraduate and graduate students can appreciate many benefits including:

• Resumé building experience in tutoring, increased interpersonal communication and mentoring skills;
• Community service experience;
• Personal and financial enrichment by participating in a national effort to improve the reading skills of children.

The UF America Reads program is currently not able to place tutors in school districts outside of Alachua County, Florida.  Please complete all applicable items on the Contact Form if you would like information as to how you may be able to access the America Reads program in your community.  

UF America Reads tutors are not permitted to provide private, individualized tutoring for families.  All tutors are currently assigned to students who are participating in 2025-2026 America Reads programs.  Students are selected by their teachers or community-based site coordinators as needing additional assistance with reading.  Please complete the Contact Form if you have additional questions.  

Please complete the Contact Form if you have additional questions. A member of our team will contact you to discuss our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and other eligibility requirements.