Tutoring Funding for Struggling Districts and Students

News from the Governor's office yesterday. Local awards include:

Career and Technical Centers
Bucks County Technical HS, $53,836

Bucks County
Bensalem Township SD, $224,467
Bristol Borough SD, $45,104
Bristol Township SD, $725,452
Morrisville Borough SD, $101,511
Neshaminy SD, $290,514

GOVERNOR RENDELL ANNOUNCES TUTORING FUNDING FOR STRUGGLING DISTRICTS, STUDENTS
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO HELP 172,000 STUDENTS MEET MATH, READING PROFICIENCY GOALS

HARRISBURG – Tens of thousands of students in 175 academically challenged school districts and career and technical centers will benefit from tutoring programs in 2008-09 thanks to investments through the state’s Educational Assistance Program, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today.

“Targeted tutoring is one of the most strategic, cost-effective ways to help those struggling students and schools that need it most,” Governor Rendell said. “Despite the notable academic gains we are making in Pennsylvania, we still have many students who lack the reading and math skills they need to reach proficiency and graduate with the skills they need for college or the work force.”

The 2008-09 education budget includes $65.1 million for the tutoring services targeted to eligible students enrolled in seventh through twelfth grades in 163 school districts and 12 career and technical schools. In all, the program will result this year in increased instructional time for more than 172,000 students who are not testing at grade level in math or reading on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment.

Tutoring programs offered through the Educational Assistance Program provide additional learning time before, during and after school, as well as on weekends, to help accelerate learning for students whose academic performance lags significantly behind their peers. The tutoring services are conducted using an evidenced-based instructional model that is aligned with the state’s academic standards and the curriculum in the student’s classroom, while also ensuring it meets each student’s needs.

The program began in the 2003-04 school year to provide increased instructional support for almost 35,000 students in 82 of the state’s most academically challenged districts. In the second year, the program reached an additional 46,055 students.

Given the increases seen in student performance on statewide reading and math exams, the program was expanded for the 2005-06 school year to reach 163 school districts and 12 career and technical centers that continue to be served.

Districts participating in the Educational Assistance Program have reported notable results from the tutoring programs. Among the benefits:

• The Penn Cambria High School in Cambria County aided 180 students last year with its afterschool tutoring sessions, targeting students needing remediation in math and reading. Students have described the sessions as “a big help” and credited them for improved grades.
• Bradford County’s Troy Area School District reported improved math achievement due to the program and, more importantly, credited the tutoring with bringing about “a change in our school and community cultural beliefs regarding the importance of math skills.”
• The Upper Darby School District in Delaware County has credited the program with helping it expand and enhance its overall tutoring opportunities, enabling students and teachers to “take advantage of every available hour, before and after school and during the summer.”

Under the Educational Assistance Program, school districts have the flexibility of providing the tutoring, partnering with an approved community provider, or doing both as long as the tutoring is effective in helping students meet proficiency.

For more information on these efforts or the Governor’s 2008-09 education budget, visit www.pde.state.pa.us.