School Based Mentoring: A First Look Into Its Potential

P/PV is undertaking a two-year study of several exemplary school-based programs. This short report presents some of their early findings. Volunteers in school-based programs are the typical volunteers for mentoring, and individuals who are busier and younger than other mentoring programs' volunteers. Youth served by school-based programs are elementary and middle school students from one- and two-parent homes who are needier than youth who typically have mentors. Mentors can more easily act as educational advocate for the child and collaborate with teachers in the school setting. It also appears that school-based mentoring may also be less costly than traditional one-on-one mentoring.