There’s a 5th grade boy in Round Rock who loves soccer, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and his dog. He also has dyslexia and is struggling with math, reading, and science. Right now, he’s experiencing homelessness. He’s moving between places, never quite sure where he’ll sleep next week, trying to keep up in school while everything else in his life feels uncertain.
There’s also a 3rd grade girl in a group home who wants to learn how to read. She’s very behind for her grade level because school attendance has been hard when you’re bouncing between placements. But she loves painting her nails, playing outside, and video games. And she’s ready to catch up if someone will help her.
They’re two of 20 students who recently connected with Learning Bridge through a new partnership with the Round Rock ISD Families in Transition (FiT) Program. Most of these students are in grades 5 through 11. A couple have already aged out of the system entirely, which puts them at high risk for poverty and chronic homelessness if they don’t finish school.
Twenty young people saying, “I need help. I’m ready to work. Please don’t give up on me.”
And here’s the beautiful part: they found us because of a series of connections that started with one volunteer who wanted to help behind the scenes.
Here’s how this partnership came together and why it matters so much.
The Round Rock ISD Partnership Takes Shape
It started with Sai – who began volunteering with Learning Bridge because she had a passion for education and was compelled to help vulnerable youth get the academic support they need. She started spreading the word about our mission, connecting volunteers and students in need of essential educational support.
One of her outreach emails was connected us with the Families in Transition (FiT) Program at Round Rock ISD.
The FiT Program works with students whose families are experiencing homelessness in all its forms. Their parents or guardians might be doubled up with another family due to financial hardship or loss of stable housing. They might be living in a motel, in a shelter, or unsheltered in their car.
High mobility is common across all these situations, which is why learning gaps are so prevalent for these students. They move frequently. Schools change. Living situations shift. And every time that happens, the gap grows wider.
The FiT team sees this reality every day. When Sarah Garza, Elementary Academic Specialist for the FiT Program, learned about Learning Bridge’s mission to provide consistent one-on-one tutoring for vulnerable youth, she knew this partnership could change things for her students.
“This is AMAZING news. I am so, so thrilled to grow this partnership,” Sarah shared.
Within weeks, more than 20 students were referred to us. For a small nonprofit like ours, that’s both thrilling and humbling. It means 20+ more young lives we can support toward graduation, toward stability, toward a thriving future.
Community Steps Up
Our community is taking action too – stepping up for these students. We’ve been able to match some of these students already. Emi, a University of Texas student, is a fantastic example of someone who felt compelled to support these young lives. When she learned about the specific needs of the students coming to us through the FiT partnership, she stepped up to tutor a Spanish-only speaker. Matching bilingual tutors is often one of our biggest challenges, and this one came together in less than two weeks.
With the help of our greater Central Texas community, it means that 5th grader who loves soccer might actually pass math. It means that 3rd grader who wants to learn to read finally gets the consistent support she’s been missing.
The Work Continues
Right now, 15 of those students are still waiting for their tutor. That 5th grader who loves soccer? Still waiting. The 3rd grader who wants to learn to read? Still waiting.
STAAR testing is coming in April, which makes this moment especially critical. These students face enough instability already. They shouldn’t have to wait for the academic support they need. The FiT Program connected them to us because they believe these kids deserve a real shot at changing their trajectory. Now we need tutors in Round Rock to make that happen.
Here’s how you can help:
Become a tutor if you live in the Round Rock area and have an hour a week to give. Spread the word and share our mission with someone who might want to get involved. Join our April volunteer meetup to learn more.
One email led to a partnership that’s changing the path for over 20 students. Imagine what your small action could create – confidence, hope, stability.
Will you help us give it to them?
Apply to volunteer, share this with your network, or send questions to Monica@learningbridgetx.org to help these students thrive.
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