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Mission Acceleration

Organization and Contact

Organization Type
Nonprofit
Headquarter Location (City, State)
Oxford, MS
Contact Name
Ashley Sheils
Contact Email
missionacceleration@gmail.com

Program Overview

Mission

Mission Acceleration seeks to:
• increase the number of skilled reading Academic Guides (reading tutors) in Mississippi
• positively impact academic outcomes in reading for students in grades K-5
• increase the total number of minutes a struggling reader spends on appropriate, Lexile®-leveled text
• reduce the negative effects of the pandemic on the academic and social/emotional well-being of students in grade K-5
• expand resources for parents to support reading development at home

Program Description

Mission Acceleration deploys college students as Academic Guides in select communities across Misssissippi. These communities include: Oxford, Starkville, Jackson, Vicksburg, Long Beach, Starkville, and Tupelo. The program works through:
1. an evidence-based intervention with explicit, systematic 1:1 academic assistance (also known as high-dosage tutoring) in reading
2. a student-centered, personalized, digital literacy environment giving students access to more than 6,000 enhanced digital books matched to the students’ interest, grade, and Lexile® reading level to deliver appropriate texts for reading practice that can be monitored and assessed, as well as utilized for parent/child/academic guide engagement
3. a meaningful connection with a role model for academic, social, and emotional support.

Type of service
Tutoring Program
Year Program Launched
2021
States of Operation
Alabama
Operation Locations
Oxford, Starkville, Hattiesburg, Tupelo, Long Beach, Starkville, Jackson, and Vicksburg (MS)

Students and Offerings

Number of Students Served in the Most Recent School Year
250 - 500
Grade Levels
Pre-Kindergarten,
Kindergarten,
1st Grade,
2nd Grade,
3rd Grade,
4th Grade,
5th Grade
Subject Offered
English Language Arts (ELA),
Reading
Languages of Instruction
English

Delivery Model and Staffing

Delivery Mode
Blended (for the same student, in-person and virtual sessions)
Setting
During School,
Immediately before/after school
Tutor-Student Ratio
3:1; 4:1; 2:1
Number of Weeks Per Program
11 weeks (Fall and Spring); 6-8 weeks (Summer)
Number of Sessions Per Week
3 - 4
Number of Minutes Per Session
45 - 60
Type of Tutor
Paraprofessional,
Tutoring Staff,
Volunteer
Other tutor type
College students
Percentage of tutors who can speak a language other than English
Less than 10%
Does your program engage with parents?
Yes
Family Engagement Description

Family newsletter and messages from participating schools.

Customer and Cost

Customer Type
Parent
Student
School
Average cost for typical tutoring cycle
$0

Research Evidence

Randomized controlled trial (RCT) study conducted?
No
Quasi-experimental (QED) study conducted?
Yes