Austin Partners in Education

Focusing on Austin ISD’s schools located in under-resourced communities and serving predominantly economically disadvantaged students, Austin Partners in Education (APIE) delivers innovative, volunteer-driven academic and mentoring programs in reading and math designed to improve student academic performance. APIE’s 1,800 volunteers work with students at pivotal junctures in their education, providing a vital extension of academic and social/emotional support to students. Through the flagship Classroom Coaching program, students benefit from small group (3:1 or below) instruction from volunteers drawn from more than 200 Austin area government agencies, businesses and community organizations.

 In the 2014-15 school year, APIE served 3,300 students through the following programs:

• Elementary Reading Classroom Coaching and Compañeros en Lectura: Volunteers in the classroom work weekly with students developing reading skills in either English or Spanish.
• Middle School Math Classroom Coaching: Volunteers in the classroom work weekly with students to build a strong foundation in middle school math, putting them on track to succeed in high school algebra.
• College Readiness (9th-12th grade) and Case Management: Advocates offer information, advising and tutoring to students “in the bubble” between being qualified to graduate and being college ready.
• Mentoring (all grades): Volunteers work one-on-one with students during the school day to help students improve their social and study skills, strengthen their communication skills, and build self-confidence.

• Increases self-confidence – volunteering can create a significant boost to your self-esteem and overall life satisfaction.
• Brings fulfillment – volunteer work can be energizing, inspiring, and give you an escape from the everyday work flow.
• Helps develop new skills – it’s an opportunity to enhance your current skill set and carry those skills to advance your career.
• A healthier body – research shows those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression compared to those who do not volunteer.
• Increases happiness – researchers studied the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness and found the more you volunteer the happier you are.

Find out how to get involved, here.