The HELPS Program | Helping Early Literacy with Practice Strategies

General Information

Started by Dr. John Begeny (developer of the HELPS Programs), The Helps Education Fund is the non-profit foundation that is used to support teachers' free access to all HELPS Program materials, including Teacher's Manuals, the HELPS Curriculum, HELPS Program Training Videos, and this website. Another goal of The Helps Education Fund is to support students' overall educational success, particularly for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Through The Helps Education Fund, teachers and schools can apply to receive free educational services related to reading instruction. Teachers and schools can also apply for free educational materials beyond the downloadable materials offered for free through this website. Click here to learn more about how to receive donated educational materials and services.

The HELPS One-on-One Program Teacher's Manual describes why the HELPS Program materials are offered to teachers for free. Those interested should read Chapter 8 of the Teacher's Manual to better understanding the socio-cultural and scientific reasons behind making the HELPS Program available for free. The information from that chapter also supports the rationale for developing and maintaining The Helps Education Fund.

How The Helps Education Fund is Financially Supported

The Helps Education Fund is financially supported in two ways. First, rather than downloading the HELPS Program materials for free from this website, teachers or schools can opt to purchase a set of pre-assembled, professionally developed HELPS Program materials (for only $45 per set). Second, individuals or organizations can make tax-deductable donations directly to the Fund. 100% of proceeds from purchased HELPS materials and 100% of donations to The Helps Education Fund are used to improve educational outcomes for students.

How Money in The Helps Education Fund is Used

Of the combined proceeds from purchased HELPS materials and from direct donations to The Helps Education Fund, approximately 75% of this money is allocated to support teachers working in schools with a high percentage of low-income students (i.e., schools or districts with at least 70% of its students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch).

The other 25% of the money in The Helps Education Fund is allocated to support continued research, development, and dissemination of related educational programs, including (but not limited to) the HELPS Program for small groups, the HELPS Program for parents, and the HELPS Program for Spanish speakers. Like the One-on-One Program currently available, all other HELPS Programs will be made available for free and, when available, will be donated in ways similar to the HELPS One-on-One Program.

Although all HELPS Program materials are available free-of-charge to all educators, purchasing the pre-assembled materials at a low cost of $45 contributes significantly to The Helps Education Fund. Specifically, 100% of the proceeds from purchased materials go directly to this Fund.

A primary goal of The Helps Education Fund is to support teachers and schools who serve large percentages of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. As a result, The Helps Education Fund donates educational materials and services to teachers working with economically disadvantaged students.

To support the goals of The Helps Education Fund, teachers can contribute by purchasing HELPS Program materials rather than downloading them for free. As another option, individuals and organizations can donate directly to The Helps Education Fund.