Arizona expands free tutoring program for students

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The Arizona Department of Education’s free academic tutoring program has been extended.

The Achievement Tutoring program is now available through at least the end of the school year and comes at a good time as many students still have a lot of catching up to do.

Our 13 News investigation on School grades It found that many districts suffered dramatic performance declines due to the pandemic and are still struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels.

13 Research found that a large percentage of Southern Arizona students were performing at the lowest levels, and in some grades, more than half of the students were performing.

Tom Horne launched the program last year using repurposed COVID relief funds related to learning loss during the pandemic.

It is designed to provide reading, writing and math instruction for students in grades K-12.

He said the pilot program was extremely successful.

The ADE reports that 22% of students experienced at least half a year’s worth of academic growth in six weeks.

“Even though we got an extension, it couldn’t be done through the districts, so we’re using private tutoring companies, companies that make their money by providing tutoring that people normally pay to prepare for college or whatever to prepare,” said Horne.

Recently retired Tucson Unified School District high school teacher Lysa Nabours said, “In my own classes over the years, when I had students in my room after school in small groups and they were focused on learning, learning happened . And the scores have gone up.”

She said parents should use whatever they can, adding: “The resources are out there. Everything is out there. You have to take advantage of it. You have to want to do the work.”

The ADE said about 30,400 students had taken advantage of the tutoring sessions, adding that half of all students had shown growth and that these were children who had not shown growth in the past before tutoring.

In a press release, the ADE said the department had been contacted by numerous parents over the past year who praised the program.

Colleen, a parent, wrote, “I am incredibly grateful for the services and support the program provides. I am confident that all three of my children will have more confidence and better report cards come fall.”

Another mother, Heather, wrote: “As a single mother raising six young men, I could never afford tutoring like this to help them find their way and build the confidence they need in life. “

Horne tells 13 News he expects the program will even be extended beyond this school year.

Registrations for the final session of the ADE are still being accepted until this month. CLICK HERE Sign in.

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