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Pocono News Section
School District Postpones Tutoring Program
School District Postpones Tutoring Program - Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 9:41PM EST
Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday, Oct 1, 2009 @ 09:41pm EDT
EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY - A delayed state budget could hurt some children's education. At least one school district had to postpone its tutoring program because there's no money to pay for it.
The East Stroudsburg Area School District was supposed to start a tutoring program October 1st but it did not have the money.
After school many classrooms are usually full of students with their tutors. But this year those rooms are empty. Senior Ryan Rosendale said, "It's messed up. People need tutoring."
Rosendale had a math tutor last year. He said, "I wasn't too good before it but I was a lot better after." He told Eyewitness News he might not have graduated without the extra help. But this year other kids might not have that opportunity. The state hasn't released any tutoring money to the school district.
The district's Interim Business Manager Pat Bader said, "Without the state funding it was an even tighter economic burden and the cash was just not there."
The state normally gives the district about $600,000 but because of the budget delay lawmakers can't tell the district how much it might get this year.
That makes parents like Dorothy Silder angry. She said, "I think it's wrong because they should be able to have their education."
Each year about 3,000 students receive tutoring in reading in math. They start on October first and finish before state tests. Annelle Prefontaine is the district's Director of Federal Programs and Grants. She said, "That was to their benefit - to get the remediation they needed before they take the state tests."
Those test results help the government decide how much money schools should receive. But now school leaders don't know when or even if they can prepare struggling students to take them.
Slider said, "They should pass the budget right away so the kids don't have to suffer and have to be held back anymore."
Despite the budget problems, the East Stroudsburg Area School District was able to continue in school tutoring for high school and intermediate school students at risk of failing math or reading. | | |
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