Youth Backpack Training

The Backpack program has been dissolved.

Seven years ago, after reading the test results of all Minnesota schools, a junior at Minnetonka High School, working toward his Eagle Scout Award, decided that we would develop a program that would focus resources on urban schools falling significantly below expectations and also behind their suburban counterparts.  This young man contacted Chi Rho Center for their assistance and support.  It was ultimately decided that he would recruit 12 high school students and that Chi Rho Center would provide a “target school” and supervision for the program.

The program was an immediate success with 27 high school students participating for the entire year.  The elementary school was so pleased and the students so supportive, it was decided to continue for another year.  Year two results with 87 tutors involved and a second elementary school was added to the program.  From these modest beginnings, the Backpack Tutoring Program was created.  Nearly 300 tutors are involved in tutoring over 300 second through fourth grade students in seven Minneapolis elementary schools.

Chi Rho Center's unique Backpack Tutoring Program pairs two suburban high school students with two urban second through fourth grade elementary students once a week for thirty weeks during the school year.  The Backpack Tutoring Program is a collaborative between Chi Rho Center, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minnetonka High School, Hopkins High School, Robbinsdale High School, and St. John's Lutheran Church.