19 Central Middle students out of about 300 eligible sign up for private tutoring

Only about 6 percent of Central Middle School students eligible for private tutoring signed up for services.

The option is required because for three consecutive years the school missed targets on communication arts exams required by the No Child Left Behind Act.

Nineteen families, out of about 300 eligible, completed paperwork by Dec. 1 for their children to attend sessions, which will most likely be run by Sylvan Learning Center.

"It's less than I thought," said principal Mark Kiehne.

Transportation issues or lack of parental involvement could be reasons more are not participating. Nationally, 15 to 20 percent or fewer of all eligible students receive supplemental services, according to research by Dr. Patricia Burch of The Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice.

Kiehne said he thinks more parents are interested in the school's in-house tutoring program, known as the Cub Club.

About 70 students routinely attend the school's Cub Club program, an increase from an average of 45 last year.

Kiehne has been encouraging parents to consider the in-house tutoring because teachers are already familiar with the students and curriculum. Busing is provided.

"It shows that people do believe that what we are doing at school is working for their kids," he said.

District administrators were prepared to spend up to $175,000 on private tutoring. In October, Gerald Richards, coordinator for federal programs, warned professional development sessions or instructional materials could be limited as a result. The cost now is an estimated $20,000.

Because of low test scores, the district is also paying to bus about 40 Jefferson Elementary students to a higher-performing school.

Tutoring for the middle school students will start over Christmas break or in the new year. Low-income students, classified as those who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, were eligible.

Board member Paul Nenninger raised concerns at a Nov. 17 meeting about the limited number of students who had signed up for services at the time. He said Wednesday he is "glad to see some are exercising their prerogative."

"As long as there are options for parents to pursue that result in student achievement, it doesn't make a difference which one they pursue, just that they make a choice," he said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

388-3627