Since 1966, Cambridge School Volunteers has had a remarkable record of success bringing the community into the public schools.

The CSV story began with a large quantity of books and a handful of mothers eager to set up much-needed libraries in elementary schools. Committed to improving public education, these mothers came together to identify other roles for volunteers to help children in the public schools.

Over time, the school department increasingly recognized the group as an integral part of the public school system. Cambridge School Volunteers was incorporated as a 501(c)3  non-profit organization in 1974 to begin to meet some of its funding needs with tax-deductible donations.

In the early years of the organization, CSV  introduced

• the CSV/CRLS Tutoring Center,

• one-to-one tutoring in the city’s K–8 schools,

• classroom assistants and

• curriculum enrichment programs.

Once these services were established, CSV staff and board worked to build partnerships with local corporations, government agencies, universities, and community groups. Today there are eighteen corporate and university partnerships, some of which have been going strong for more than 30 years.