September 20, 2013

Cuts in tutor funding spark creative solutions

Summary: As a result of the “Race to the Top Waiver” granted to Florida schools and the effects of the sequester, the Marion County School District has chosen to replace SES tutoring providers with a variety of solutions. Schools are hosting intervention paraprofessionals and math coaches as well and are hopeful that grants will support after-hours tutoring and enrichment.

By Joe Callahan, Staff writer, Ocala StarBanner, originally published 8/29/13

Last year at elementary schools countywide, the Marion County School District spent $1 million in federal funds to tutor 1,000 low-income students. This year, though the need is still great, there is not enough money to pay for the same tutoring program because of complicated federal funding issues.

This development has prompted the district to take some creative approaches to plug the financial hole and help these struggling students. District officials are adding intervention paraprofessionals and math coaches at the schools that need help the most, and also installing new computer software to assist students. At some schools, like Fessenden Elementary, officials vow to stretch the federal money they get to help low-income children.

This is all necessary because of two separate funding issues: Florida opting out of the controversial No Child Left Behind Act and the federal government’s sequester cuts. Last year, Florida education officials signed a “Race to the Top” waiver that, among other things, cut Title I tutoring dollars — known as Supplemental Educational Services (SES) funds — to districts. Because that tutoring money had been cut, Florida lawmakers forced school districts to set aside 15 percent of remaining federal Title I dollars to use for SES tutoring in 2012-13.

This spring, lawmakers did not require districts to set aside those Title I dollars for 2013-14. In fact, interim Commissioner Pam Stewart said districts do not have to use any of their shrinking Title I dollars for the SES tutoring.

To read more click here.

Filed under: Funding,NCLB

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