In districts across southwest Missouri, teachers and schools do the essential work of educating students every day. Alongside that work, trained Crosslines volunteers provide one-on-one Math & Reading Buddy support—reinforcing classroom learning, building confidence, and strengthening relationships that help students succeed.
And the results are clear.
During the 2024–2025 school year, Crosslines’ Math & Reading Buddy Programs delivered thousands of one-on-one tutoring sessions across Springfield Public Schools. Through the Math Buddy Program alone, 79% of participating students met grade-level goals, and 100% of participating schools asked to continue the program the following year. Reading Buddy students saw equally strong outcomes, with 86% improving their reading scores on district assessments. These are students who were struggling—and who made significant gains with the help of individualized attention.
Those outcomes are powered by consistency and compassion. The instruction matters, but so does the presence of a safe, caring adult who shows up each week. Each volunteer is paired with the same student for the entire school year, creating trust and stability that supports learning.
Last year alone:
- More than 120 volunteers served in SPS schoolsVolunteers contributed over 3,600 hours of one-on-one tutoringMath Buddy students exceeded expected growth targets on district screeners—some by wide margins
As Math & Reading Buddy volunteer Jack Cole shares:
“When you sit down with a child week after week, you can actually see the light come on. They start believing they can do this—and that belief carries into everything else. This program works because it’s simple, it’s personal, and it shows kids that someone cares enough to show up.”
Jack—who, in addition to serving as a Reading Buddy, also serves as Mayor of Rogersville—has seen firsthand just how real and close to home the need can be:
“I had a third grader last year who couldn’t write his name yet. That’s something people don’t expect to hear in our community. With time, patience, and encouragement, we got it figured out—and the change in his life was incredible.”
Stories like this are why early intervention matters.
In 2025, the Math & Reading Buddy Programs achieved important recognition when Crosslines received a line item under TANF funding in the state budget for the first time, strengthening staffing, training, and coordination for a program already demonstrating strong academic returns. While that funding may not be renewed in the 2026 budget, one thing has not changed: Crosslines is committed to keeping this program strong.
Math & Reading Buddy is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent future hardship. Early literacy and numeracy are proven predictors of long-term success, and decades of experience tell us that many adults who rely on emergency food assistance once struggled with these same skills as children. This program allows us to intervene early—to change a child’s trajectory before poverty becomes generational and entrenched.
Thanks to dedicated volunteers like Jack, strong school partnerships, and a community that believes in prevention as much as response, we are confident in the path ahead. When we invest early, we don’t just improve test scores—we help children build confidence, stability, and opportunity.
How You Can Help
Math & Reading Buddy works because it brings people together—students, volunteers, schools, and a community that believes early support matters. If this story resonates with you, there are meaningful ways to be part of what comes next.
Whether by volunteering your time, sharing this story, or making a gift to support early learning, your involvement helps ensure children receive support when it makes the greatest difference.
Now is our window to make a difference. Supporting students today helps strengthen our community for years to come.