John Bradley, Executive Director of the Vassar Education Collaboration (VEC), received a Community Fund Grant from United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region to support the Vassar English Language Learners Outreach Program (VELLOP). VELLOP places Vassar students in Poughkeepsie City School District classrooms as teachers’ aides, providing tutoring support for English language learners.

For the youngest students, VELLOP tutors focus on helping them acquire fundamental literacy and arithmetic skills that will carry them through the rest of their educational careers. For high school students, tutors work one-on-one and in small groups in content classes throughout the school day to help students complete their coursework. They also teach learning strategies that help improve reading skills and support the development of academic and career plans.