ATLAS relies upon volunteer tutors to provide students with individualized instruction. ATLAS offers free training to our tutors. This training gives a broad overview of current issues and practical techniques in the field of adult literacy. Tutors work with students in one-on-one pairings or in small groups, while receiving on-going support and guidance from professional ATLAS site teachers.

The main goal of ATLAS is to serve adults whose reading, writing, or math skills are below those of average high school students. Some ATLAS students have had virtually no formal education before. Others have repeatedly found traditional classrooms settings unsuccessful. Still others were successful students in other countries, learned to speak English fairly well, and currently need to improve their command of formal English. Students come to our program for many reasons, including: to get better jobs, to help their children with schoolwork, to participate in their churches, or to prepare for higher education.

Most ATLAS tutors work with their students once a week. Others work twice a week. Some, with the advice and support of their site teachers, begin tutoring before they go through our training. Others choose to wait until after they have been trained. We try to accommodate the needs of our volunteers.