NEW JERSEY ELECTED LEADERS COME TOGETHER TO INVEST IN A NEEDED HIGH-IMPACT TUTORING STRATEGY
NEW JERSEY ELECTED LEADERS COME TOGETHER TO INVEST IN A NEEDED HIGH-IMPACT TUTORING STRATEGY
NEW JERSEY TUTORING CORPS, INC. RECEIVES $1.5 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING
FY2024 Budget Supports Tutoring Corps for 2nd Year in a Row
[July 6, 2023 – New Jersey] – New Jersey Tutoring Corps, Inc. (NJTC), the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to providing K-8 students with high-impact tutoring in Math and Literacy, announced today that it will receive $1.5 million in grants from the FY2024 budget. This is the second year of budget funding for NJTC, and it continues to serve as the only tutoring program receiving funding in this year’s budget.
The following is a statement from NJTC CEO Katherine Bassett:
“NJTC thanks Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz and Senate Education Committee Chair Vin Gopal, who have been our partners and advocates since we were created three years ago on the heels of the pandemic. Their tireless work, leadership, and advocacy on behalf of families has made tutoring a budget priority. We also commend the Murphy Administration for valuing high-impact tutoring and acting to address scholar learning gaps in the state.
“Through our work over the last three years, we know firsthand that tutoring works and that the solutions to our education challenges are being developed here in New Jersey,” Bassett continues. “As a result, this needed budget support ensures the vital work we are doing will continue and will allow us to serve more PK-8 scholars statewide during a significantly critical moment to address the massive declines in grade level proficiency that we have seen across the state. Supporting tutoring and helping all our children throughout the state is our moral responsibility. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment that requires unprecedented action – our tutors are ready, and we remain committed to serving every child and every family that needs support.”
The following is a statement from New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz:
“We are facing historic learning loss in every area of the State, and we must do far more to ensure all our children are learning at grade level and are provided opportunities for the future. High impact tutoring is an incredibly valuable tool we have at our disposal, and the New Jersey Tutoring Corps has been highly effective at closing learning gaps in the communities where they have worked to date. As such, I fought to expand funding for this program so it can run this summer and through the next school year. While this is an important step, it is not the only step, and it is crucial that we continue to invest in meaningful solutions that put families and our children first.”
The following is a statement from New Jersey Senate Education Chair Vin Gopal:
“High dosage tutoring is a critical intervention for New Jersey students and I am proud to advocate for and support the New Jersey Tutoring Corps because of the results they continue to demonstrate for New Jersey students. In Monmouth County, there will be 3 locations – BGC of Asbury Park, BGC of Red Bank and BGC of Long Branch. 164 students will be served during summer camp because of the New Jersey Tutoring Corps. Last summer, there were only two locations for Monmouth County students. I hope our efforts in this budget continue to support expansion efforts statewide.”
The following is a statement from Laura Overdeck, Chair of the Overdeck Foundation:
“High-quality tutoring is one of the few solidly proven education interventions out there. The New Jersey Tutoring Corps, Inc. has proven it yet again, showing direct impact well beyond what many statewide initiatives can achieve. This financial investment from state leadership is critical to sustain the work. As of one year ago, only 35.4% NJ scholars were at grade-level proficiency in math, and only 48.9% in ELA. When more than half our scholars are behind, tutoring is an emergency requirement. The Overdeck Family Foundation is, and continues to be, a proud supporter of the New Jersey Tutoring Corps, Inc. and we are thrilled that our state leaders support them as well.”
The following is a statement from Ashley Bencan, Chief Operating Officer of the New Jersey Tutoring Corps:
“Implementing high-impact tutoring is hard work. I am proud to lead an operations team whose results and accomplishments, during a pandemic and a staffing crisis, are often inconceivable. We would not be here today if not for the visionary district leaders willing to partner and learn from pilot programming; the trust from the philanthropic community to invest in our program and the incredible educators who have the best growth mindset around. The New Jersey Tutoring Corps embodies what the future of the grow-your-own pathway can be – learning acceleration programming that incentivizes the pursuit of teaching and compensates each professional at every step of the way.”
About NJTC
NJTC delivers high-quality, evidence-based, high-impact tutoring in literacy and math in partnership with districts and community partners, such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of NJ, the Y Alliance, Newark Public Schools (NPS), Waterford Township Schools, Clinton Township Schools, Roseville Community Charter School, Stillwater Township Schools, KIPP NJ, and Camden Promise Charter Network. Overall, NJTC will serve over 2000 scholars across 23 locations statewide this summer with over 160 trained field staff who will advance scholar learning and close academic achievement gaps by providing responsive, personalized, and hands-on instruction aligned to New Jersey state standards. In addition, NJTC provides a teacher pipeline, growing preservice and early career educator skills, and places experienced teachers in leadership positions. In addition to state funding, NJTC’s work is also supported by the Overdeck Family Foundation, the New Jersey Children’s Foundation, the Tepper Foundation, the Prudential Foundation, and the Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation.
