The new semester either just started or will start in a couple weeks for most schools. All of MPS, except for the year-round and international baccalaureate schools, will begin with new classes January 27. Being aware of options is the first step towards improving a child’s performance.
SES
Supplemental Education Services provide free tutoring for low-income families under NCLB. Through SES, parents can have children tutored in their home, in a tutor’s home, at church, at school, online, or at private tutoring centers.
Currently there are more tutors available through providing companies than there are students taking advantage of the services, making it a good time to enroll. The one-on-one attention will help students quickly learn material.
It is true that the main goal of SES is to improve scores on the WKCE, and in turn students also do better on class work. But with the phasing out of this state test, tutors can whole-heartedly ingrain the desire within students to be successful, and give them the skills and knowledge to do so.
For more information on the SES process, the Tutors for Kids web site has an informative chart that explains the required roles of both the State of Wisconsin and the MPS district.
Community Learning Centers
There are 54 Community Learning Centers in Milwaukee that are run by outside organizations, and they have no shortage of participants. A total of 29,548 students were served in Wisconsin’s 124
CLCs in 2007-2008, according to a report by the Department of Public Instruction.
The after-school program provides tutoring in math, science and reading, but academic help is just one of their many services. They also offer family support, social development activities, health and nutrition information and plenty of recreation opportunities.
Although expensive and a struggle to keep operating in a budget crisis, the use of centers have improved both academic performance and classroom behavior, according to the 2007-2008 DPI report.
A full list of participating schools can be found on the Milwaukee Recreation web site.
To enroll in SES or CLC, have the child pick up a form in the main office to bring home and get signed, then send it back with them to school.
For more information:
Background and history of CLCs
Comments