19th May 2010 9:00
By Blue Tutors
A peer tutoring program in the U.S. is set to discontinue due to lack of funding. In a report on the East Aurora Advertiser, it’s explained that despite the scheme appearing successful, the federal funding that was used this year for the program (around $10,000) will not be available for the same purpose next year.
The system worked by rewarding the tutors with a $25 gift card for every five hours of tuition that was completed. The tutors are all currently seniors at high school, and have been helping their younger classmates.
The results showed good general improvement, with those tutored, on average, increasing the Grade Point Average (GPA) by 4%. However, the tutors also increased their GPA by 1%, which may have been more surprising. One tutor said that it helped her to revise previous lessons, and speak to younger students who she would otherwise not have met.
In March of this year the number of students tutored was up to 492, and they had had lessons of a combined period of 251 hours. This was up from 212 students having 101 hours of lessons up to January, and the increase means the required budget for next year would be $12,000, which, unfortunately, the school board are unable to find.