Tutoring  takes place in local libraries, community centers, church facilities, educational centers and social service centers, as well as in the literacy center.  Trained tutors prepare lesson plans for each meeting and meet with their students once or twice a week for at least one hour per session.  Students are paired with tutors on the basis of order of application and mutual availability.  Anyone 18 years of age or older and resident of Collier County who needs these services is eligible for them free of charge.  Students and tutors collaborate to set goals and student progress towards these goals is assessed regularly.  Tutors are required to report to LVCC, on a quarterly basis, the hours they devoted to preparation and instruction and the progress of their students.  Staff maintains these records utilizing a nationally recognized data base program designed specifically for literacy programs and meeting the reporting requirements of the parent organization, ProLiteracy America.  Because of the long list of prospective students awaiting assignment of a tutor, several tutors accept more than one student or provide small group tutoring to a number of individuals at the same instructional level.  Students are referred to LVCC by libraries, community organizations, local educational institutions and, most frequently, by students already in the program.  This activity accounts for approximately two-thirds or 67% of LVCC’s total volunteer time. 
Staff provides support for this effort by responding to all requests for information from prospective students, interviewing all prospective students at the LVCC office, providing a written initial assessment of all prospective students, advising prospective students regarding study to do and free LVCC classes to attend while waiting for a tutor assignment, maintaining contact with students and updating data regarding students as needed, matching students with tutors, and monitoring student progress.  Staff support for this primary activity of one-to-one and small group tutoring requires approximately 50% of total staff or paid time.
            This activity was initiated in 1984 when the organization was founded and has remained the primary activity ever since. 
            During the first five years of the organization’s existence, the majority of students coming to LVCC for help were English-speaking adults who could not read or write.  In the past 15 years, an ever increasing majority of LVCC’s students have been foreign-born adults needing to learn to read, write and speak English.  Over 90% of current students fall into the latter category.