Contact: Lisa Shin
(206) 937-9691
lshin@washingtonpolicy.org 

Children to receive extra help with reading, English, math and science

SEATTLE— This week and next education officials across Washington are sending letters to public school parents informing them they may be eligible to receive up to $3,225 to pay for private tutoring and other education services, from the Supplemental Educational Services program.

Funding for the program, authorized by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, became available after officials announced this summer that many public schools in Washington are not adequately educating children.  The state became the first in the nation to lose its federal waiver, after opposition from the WEA union blocked an education bill in the legislature, freeing up federal funds to help families gain access to private education services for their children, as described in “How Washington state lost its waiver from the federal education law, No Child Left Behind.”

“The teachers’ union used its clout to kill an important bill, and Washington lost its waiver under the No Child Left Behind law,” said Liv Finne, Director for Education at Washington Policy Center.  “The good news for children is parents can now gain access to new education services to help kids succeed in school and in life.”

The program is targeted to low-income families that officials have assigned to struggling or failing public schools.  Such schools have failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) three years in a row, as measured by federal standards.  Families that participate in the free or reduced lunch program are eligible to receive money for free tutoring and other after-school services.

Families can use the money to pay for qualified education expenses from private tutoring services like Sylvan Learning Academy, Powerful Schools and Pi Plus Tutors.   Families can receive $112 to $3,225, depending on the school district, with the median tutoring voucher valued at $1,000. 

Children can receive extra help in core subjects such as reading, English language, math and science.  Tutoring will take place after regular school hours in a one-on-one setting or in small groups.  Parents will be involved in choosing a tutor and in guiding their child’s individualized learning program.

“These services are classes or tutoring which occur outside the regular school day with educational providers [tutors] approved by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction,” says a draft of the official letter to be sent to parents.

How to apply for private tutoring funds

Interested parents can call their local public school and ask about the Supplemental Educational Services program.  Officials will inform them about eligibility, the amount of money they may receive and explain how to select an after-school tutor from an approved list.