Posted by eporter on April 22, 2026
Start Enhancing Your School-Based Mentoring Program for Next Year
School is one of the most common settings for formal mentoring relationships in the United States. If your school-based mentoring program follows the academic calendar, with new matches initiating at the start of the school year, now is the perfect time to begin planning for next year.
April is an ideal time to reflect, evaluate, and prepare. By taking steps now, your program can ensure a smoother, more successful start when the next school year begins, and one of the more effective ways to strengthen your program is through mentor training.
What Makes School-Based Mentoring Programs Unique?
School-based mentoring programs offer several advantages. They provide a structured, supervised environment where mentors and mentees can meet consistently. Because children are already at school, these programs also reduce common barriers like transportation and scheduling conflicts.
Research shows that school-based mentoring can positively impact students’ attitudes toward school and behavior, such as attendance.1 In addition, relationship closeness in school-based mentoring programs has been shown to improve student academic growth, even if the program is not explicitly focused on academics.2
These findings highlight the potential of school-based mentoring programs to support both academic and personal development.
Why Training Matters
While school-based programs offer many built-in advantages, positive outcomes are not automatic. To build a strong relationship with a mentee that positively impacts them, mentors need skills to effectively communicate, build trust, and support their mentee. Mentors may encounter challenges such as navigating boundaries, handling difficult relationships, understanding their role in the relationship, and supporting mentees with diverse needs. Without proper preparation, even well-intentioned mentors may feel uncertain or unprepared. This is why mentor training plays a critical role in school-based programs.
Pre-match mentor training is an evidence-based strategy for improving mentoring program outcomes. When mentors receive training before they meet with their mentee, they may feel more confident, better prepared, and more likely to build strong, effective mentoring relationships.
Research has shown that mentors who complete pre-match training report being more ready to begin mentoring, self-efficacious, and knowledgeable about the roles that mentors should and should not play, and had less unrealistically positive expectations about mentoring.3 These factors can lead to stronger relationships and better outcomes for mentees.
Preparing Mentors for Success
The site-based version of Mentoring Central’s Building the Foundation for Mentors course is designed specifically to support mentors in school-based settings. This web-based, interactive training helps mentors build the skills they need before their first meeting with a mentee. The course covers:
Because it is tailored for site-based programs, the training includes realistic examples of school-based mentoring situations, helping mentors feel more prepared for what they may encounter. The course can be used across a variety of school-based contexts, including in-school mentoring programs, afterschool mentoring programs, and hybrid models that combine both.
Start Planning Now for a Stronger Year Ahead
Taking time now to plan for mentor training can set your program up for success in the coming school year. By equipping mentors with the knowledge and skills they need from the start, programs can build stronger mentoring relationships, reduce challenges, and increase the likelihood of positive outcomes for youth. School-based mentoring programs have incredible potential to support student growth and that potential is strengthened when mentors are prepared and supported.
As you begin planning for the next school year, consider how mentor training can strengthen your program. Explore the site-based version of Mentoring Central’s Building the Foundation for Mentors course and give your mentors the tools they need to build strong, impactful relationships with their mentees: https://mentoringcentral.net/mentoring-training/building-the-foundation-mentor/.