Thursday, March 11, 2010

S. Beloit principal: Tutoring program working (Rockford Register Star)

S. Beloit principal: Tutoring program working (Rockford Register Star)

S. Beloit principal: Tutoring program working (Rockford Register Star)

Posted: 10 Mar 2010 07:26 PM PST

SOUTH BELOIT — Struggling junior high students are finding success in an after-school tutoring program that began last month.

Seventh- and eighth-grade students at South Beloit Junior High School are referred to the one-hour, twice-a-week sessions if they are failing two or more classes. The program started with 21 students last month, Principal Mike McCoy said.

As of this month, nearly 40 percent of those students had improved their performance enough to achieve passing grades and were able to opt out of the tutoring. McCoy updated School Board members on the progress during their monthly meeting this week.

"We're really happy with the results," McCoy said. "It's a good intervention for some students that we've found is working."

During the tutoring sessions, students work with a teacher on homework or work with another student on assignments. Some read to catch up on required book lists — it just depends on what's best for the individual student.

McCoy said he has received positive feedback from parents about the program and school officials try to offer makeup days if students have to miss tutoring for appointments or other family commitments.

Six more students qualified for the after-school program this month.

The after-school tutoring sessions are in addition to lunchtime tutoring for students who don't complete assignments. McCoy said that process circumvents the "easy way out" of giving students a zero on assignments and instead makes them more responsible for the work.

Tutoring for fifth- and sixth-grade Blackhawk Elementary School students has been voluntary for the after-school sessions, but McCoy is hoping to expand the program to make it mandatory next year.

One of the goals for the junior high tutoring program is to better prepare students transitioning to high school. South Beloit High School also expanded its after-school tutoring this school year.

"We have a smaller school, so that makes it easier to do these programs sometimes," McCoy said. "The teachers, the paraprofessionals, the secretaries, they all participate and they're gung-ho about it. That's what makes it work."

Reach staff writer Melissa Westphal at mwestpha@rrstar.com or 815-987-1341.

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