Tutoring services see business boom.While districts are struggling meet what many say are unfunded mandates An unfunded mandate is a statute that requires government or private parties to carry out specific actions, but does not appropriate any funds for that purpose. Examples Under the provisions of NCLB, schools that fail to reach state achievement goals two years in a row are required to offer free tutoring to students from low-income low-in·come adj. Of or relating to individuals or households supported by an income that is below average. families or a transfer to a high performing school. Up to 20 percent of Title 1 funds at these schools must be earmarked for supplemental education services, which is between $900 and $2,500 per student per year. "The market is growing at a rate of 12-15 percent per year and we estimate its size at $4.5 billion," says Mark Jackson Mark Jackson may refer to:
Some tutoring services have doubled or tripled their revenues serving students who qualify. Students enrolled in New York-based Platform Learning programs grew from 1,000 students in 2003, to 15,000 last year to 50,000 in 2005, says Gene V. Wade Jr., Platform's chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . Catapult catapult (kăt`əpŭlt'), mechanism used to throw missiles in ancient and medieval warfare. At first, catapults were specifically designed to shoot spears or other missiles at a low trajectory (see bow and arrow). Learning, a division of Baltimore-based Educate, Inc., reported that its enrollment in tutoring programs under NCLB grew from 5,000 in 2002-2003 to 25,000 in 2003-2004. Some other major tutoring companies include Kaplan Educational Services, Huntington Learning Centers, Princeton Review and Newton Learning, a division of Edison Schools Edison Schools Inc. is a for-profit company that manages public schools in the United States and the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1992. History Edison Schools was widely hailed at the beginning of the 21st century as the leader in what "school reformers" saw as the , Inc. But providers are currently serving just a fraction of the amount of students eligible. Educators say only about 10 percent to 12 percent of qualified students--200,000--are actually enrolled in programs. "If everyone who was eligible signed up, it would create a crisis," said Wade, of Platform Learning. There wouldn't be enough companies or organizations to provide the tutoring needed. More students qualify for tutoring in the Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. than are currently being served on a national level, said Becki Robinson, a program specialist for the district. In L.A., 265,000 qualify for tutoring, but only 27,500 have signed up. RELATED ARTICLE: How to pick tutoring companies. Ask the questions to make sure strict offers students the best Tutoring service available: * Review the curriculum materials and technology the tutoring providers are using in their sessions with students * Does the provider try to entice students to sign up by offering free rewards? * What is the tutor-to-student ratio? Do they provide one-on-one tutoring? * What qualifications do tutors need to be hired by the providers? What kind of training do they receive? * What measures does the provider use to track student achievement in the program? * What is the attendance policy at the program? |
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