CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — Achieve Pinal Experience Corps, an initiative of Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth and Central Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation, launched the AARP Foundation Experience Corps program in 2020 — the first rural community in Arizona to be selected as an Experience Corps affiliate. Thanks to the support of Resolution Copper and a Governor’s Office grant, the program expanded to serve Superior in 2024.
Experience Corps is an evidence-based literacy program that improves the reading skills of students in grades K–3 and enriches the lives of volunteer tutors, all of whom are over the age of 50. The program is currently recruiting volunteer tutors to serve the Superior program. The program offers one-to-one tutoring to Superior’s JFK Elementary school second and third grade students.
Achieve Pinal was inspired to become an AARP Foundation Experience Corps affiliate because third grade is a critical turning point at which children need to transition from learning to read to reading to learn. According to the Arizona Education Progress Meter, which focuses on improving educational performance in our state, the statewide goal is to have 72% of third graders reading at grade level. Right now, however, Arizona is at 44%, while Pinal County is at 31%. By helping young students become better readers, Experience Corps seeks to ensure a lasting legacy of strong futures, supported schools and empowered volunteers.
From kindergarten to third grade students learn to read, but from fourth grade on they read to learn. Students who do not read at grade level when they leave third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Achieve Pinal Experience Corps volunteers are making a tremendous difference. Over the past five years the program has tutored more than 1,000 students, with 368 going through the program in 2024-25. For 2024-25, 87% of students served advanced at least one reading grade level, and 54% advanced two or more levels.
Won’t you join us in improving the lives of Superior’s students? For details or to apply to become a volunteer, please visit https://www.achievepinal.org/aarpprogram
About Achieve Pinal and Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth
Achieve Pinal is an initiative of the Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth and Central Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation (both nonprofit organizations). These united groups have a 35-year history of improving the economic vitality of Pinal County. Achieve Pinal works with education, government, business and other community partners to develop a competitive workforce for current and future jobs by improving educational attainment in Pinal County. For more information about these organizations, please visit pinalalliance.org.
About AARP Foundation
AARP Foundation works to end senior poverty by helping vulnerable older adults build economic opportunity and social connectedness. As AARP’s charitable affiliate, we serve AARP members and nonmembers alike. Bolstered by vigorous legal advocacy, we spark bold, innovative solutions that foster resilience, strengthen communities and restore hope. To learn more about AARP Foundation visit aarpfoundation.org.