Horne announces extension of free services through Achievement Tutoring program

For immediate release: October 16, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne announces extension of free services through Achievement Tutoring program

Tutoring available through at least end of current school year

PHOENIX – The highly successful Achievement Tutoring Program initiated last year by Superintendent Tom Horne is being extended through the end of the 2024-25 school year, allowing more students to take advantage of this free program that has resulted in academic gains for students throughout Arizona.

Horne said, “Studies show tutoring to be the best method for academic growth. A year ago, I announced that we would repurpose about $40 million in COVID relief funds that had been allocated by the previous administration, and were not being used for academic purposes, to create the Achievement Tutoring Program. The results have been excellent as students who get this tutoring have shown significant academic growth. Because we have received an extension that allows remaining funds to continue to be used, this program will continue through at least the end of the current school year.”

The Achievement Tutoring Program is designed to provide reading, writing, and mathematics tutoring for students in grades K-12. Since the program was begun, it has served over 30,400 students through seven sessions. Beginning with a pilot in November 2023, session enrollments have grown from 4,200 students to over 6,800 students. The latest session is accepting enrollments through October.

Academically, 22 percent of the students experienced at least a half-year’s worth of academic growth in six weeks, which is excellent progress in a short period of time.

Because of federal rules on the extension of Covid relief (ESSER) funds, this is no longer available through public schools but can be accessed through private providers through the Department of Education.

During the past year, the department has been contacted by numerous parents praising the Achievement Tutoring Program.

One parent, Colleen, wrote to say, “I am incredibly grateful for the services and support provided by the program. I am confident that all three of my children will have increased confidence and improved report cards in the fall.”

Heather wrote, “As a single mom raising six young men, I could never afford to get tutoring like this to help them get caught up and build the confidence they need to have in life.”

From Jennifer, “The Achievement Tutoring program has helped tremendously to fill in the gaps in (my child’s) learning loss… He has improved immensely!”

Alexandra said, “My son has grown so much in reading… He finally has the confidence in reading that he has lacked for so long! I was so proud I actually cried.”

Catherine wrote, “My daughter had been struggling, but is now much more confident in her math skills… I truly hope the ATP program will continue, as it’s changing lives and helping so many. Especially some of us with limited financial resources.”

For more information: https://www.azed.gov/achievement-tutoring

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