ACE Full-Time Tutor: FAQs

1. What types of hours will I be expected to work?

Members work from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in their school. Additional hours can be accumulated after school Monday-Friday by becoming involved in an after-school programs or community partnerships. Members are also expected to work one Saturday per month at a community service project.

2. Is this a paid or volunteer position?

ACE is an AmeriCorps service position, not a permanent full-time position. Tutors are hired on a yearly basis for 10 months. Tutors receive a monthly living allowance along with a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award after successfully completing their service term.

3. Can I attend school and be an ACE tutor?

Yes, some of our tutors have taken one or two classes during their service term. However classes can't be taken during the day nor can they conflict with any additional ACE trainings or service projects. Some tutors have found it exhausting keeping up with both commitments, especially at the beginning of their service term.

4. Can I have a part-time job and work with ACE?

Yes, several of our tutors taken on part-time jobs to supplement their living allowance. This additional job can't be during the day or conflict with any additional ACE trainings or service projects. Some tutors have found it exhausting keeping up with both commitments, especially at the beginning of their service term.

5. Where would I serve?

Tutors serve in one of the three following areas: North/Central Austin, South/Central Austin, or Manor (a city just east of Austin).

6. What's the relationship between ACE and AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps is a national organization that oversees several service programs. ACE is a program that is a grant recipient of AmeriCorps.

7. What's the relationship between ACE and The University of Texas at Austin?

ACE is a program of the Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin but does not receive operating funds from UT. Individuals and grants from foundations, corporations, and government bodies support ACE. ACE benefits greatly from being part of a major research university whose resources, including researchers and infrastructure support, help ACE to deliver a high-quality, effective early literacy intervention program. Tutors are not considered employees of UT.

8. I have served with AmeriCorps before. Am I still eligible for another year of service?

Maybe. Individuals can serve up to four years in an AmeriCorps National or State program. After serving four years, individuals are still eligible to serve in either AmeriCorps VISTA or NCCC programs. After two years of service, please know that you can only earn the equivalent of two full-time member education awards. Therefore, members will not receive an education award after this limit is reached.

9. What does research-based lessons mean?

ACE uses "best-practices" in reading instruction. "Best-practice" means the teaching methods used in our instruction have been shown by research to be the most effective. In addition, our lessons and interventions are driven by data collected on individual students.

10. What does it mean to be a bilingual tutor?

Texas school districts in Austin and surrounding areas offer bilingual education in the early grades. Bbilingual members instruct K-2 students in Spanish. Bilingual tutors also tutor children in English.

11. Does ACE provide housing?

Housing is not provided by ACE, nor is there a moving allowance for relocating. We provide members with a housing guide and we also connect new members and other Austin AmeriCorps programs through a listserv and social media group.

12. What is the dress code?

Members wear one of the following shirts during their work week:

Members wear AISD-appropriate bottoms and shoes.