Refer a Child

If you are interested in matching a student in foster care with a volunteer tutor, please complete the application here.

Process to Refer a Child for Tutoring

Learning Bridge accepts intake forms from families of students in K-12^th grade in Travis, Hays, Williamson, Bastrop, and Bell Counties. Foster or kinship families are encouraged to fill out the intake form. If needed, CPS workers, or other organization or agency workers may fill the form out for the family if the family and student agree that they want to participate.

Once the form is submitted and we learn about the student and his or her needs, we will contact you to set up a time to meet the caregivers and student and discuss the program. We can typically match a student with a tutor within a week. Students are matched according to the tutor’s experience, interest and proximity to the family if in-person tutoring is requested. Tutors meet with their students a minimum of one hour a week and commit to a full school year.

Individualized Approach

Our program is individualized to meet the needs of the student. Tutors are trained to develop a strong rapport and trust with the student. The tutor will work with the student and family to set goals and make a plan for their time together. This may include working on homework, practicing test prep, improving reading skills, learning how to study and take notes, or just enhancing basic organizational skills. If a student does not need help with homework, tutors will come prepared with materials to help the child learn. The student just needs to show up and be ready to learn! A schedule for sessions is arranged with the families’ schedule in mind; most of our tutors are flexible and aim to meet the families’ needs.

Commitment to Accept Tutoring

Tutoring is offered free of charge for school-aged kids in foster or kinship placements, or in the Family Based Safety Program. Families and students are required to commit to at least one hour of tutoring a week and maintain good communication with their tutors. These sessions may be broken up into 30 minute sessions throughout the week if the tutor and student choose to do so. The student must have access to a quiet space where they are able to focus on their tutoring lesson for the week. Sessions may be scheduled virtually or in-person and can take place in the afternoons, evenings, weekends, or any other time outside of school hours that is agreeable to both the tutor and the family.

Expectations and Agreements

We ask families and students to do the following:

• Complete 2 surveys (beginning and end of year)
• Take pre- and post- tests in reading and math
• Share grades to help monitor academic performance
• Show-up for sessions on time as scheduled
• Attend 2 celebration events (December and May)
• Maintain communication with assigned tutor

Learning Bridge aims to maintain good communication with caregivers and we are always available if there are any questions or concerns. The tutors are meant to help take some of the burden off of busy families, and ultimately, to help students to catch up, develop a love of learning, and to excel.

All matches, families and tutors have access to and ongoing support from us at Learning Bridge.

All of our students have reported having a positive connection with their tutors.

“My tutor helped me understand math and get better grades”

Student, age 13

“My tutor has helped me to like school more.”

Student, age 8

“Our foster son hates to read, and despite this, his tutor has been able to help him, improving his reading and comprehension skills.

-Caregiver