Families applaud Governor Newsom’s 2022-23 state budget proposal to dedicate an additional $3.4 billion to the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P), bringing the total ongoing funding to $4.4 billion. Now it is time to ensure this historic funding will deliver on the legislature’s promise of high quality after school for all students and will result in improved academic and socioemotional outcomes for California students.
Research shows that high quality, high dosage tutoring provided by trained tutors, is an effective strategy to mitigate unfinished learning.,, Yet low-income students across California are living in tutoring deserts. Access to high-quality tutoring is mainly available in more affluent neighborhoods and scarce in lower income neighborhoods. Many families want their children to have access to individualized tutoring but hiring a private tutoring is not an option. Governor Newsom, state lawmakers, and school and district leaders have a huge opportunity and responsibility to prioritize access to free, high-quality tutoring for all California students. We believe high-quality tutoring and after school programs are key parts of a holistic and equitable education.
We are California families whose children are experiencing an academic and socioemotional crisis brought on by the pandemic. We urge you to implement the following priorities in the 2022-23 California state budget to increase access to high quality tutoring and expand access to after school programs for middle and high school students:
- Expand access to the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) to middle and high school students. The ELO-P currently only requires local education agencies to serve high-need students in grades TK- 6. Middle and high school students also need and deserve access to high quality after school enrichment opportunities.
- Dedicate $3.5 billion to provide high-quality, high-dosage tutoring to low-income K-12 students across California. There is currently no dedicated source of funding for tutoring, yet high quality, high-dosage tutoring is a proven way to address unfinished learning. Tutoring is also a way to ensure every student is able to develop close relationships with caring adults, another important strategy to support students’ socio-emotional wellbeing. There are approximately 3.4 million low-income K-12 students across California. Many highly effective tutoring programs range in cost between $2,500 and $3,500 when each tutor is paired with no more than 2 students,. Tutoring can be even more cost effective in groups of 3-4. If the legislature commits $1,000 per low-income student per year while local education agencies contribute $500- $1,000 per low-income student, per year for tutoring, we could dramatically expand high quality tutoring for students who need it most. Tennessee created a statewide tutoring program, TN ALL Corps, whereby the state will provide $700 per student per year, while the district contributes $800. Next year, we need a dedicated source of funding for tutoring to help students recover and close the gap between families that can afford tutoring and families that cannot.
- Build in transparency and accountability in how Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) funds are used. There are currently no mechanisms to evaluate how ELO-P funds are being used and the effectiveness of the programs that are receiving this vital funding. We ask for increased accountability and transparency to ensure these funds are used effectively and reach the students most impacted by the pandemic.
The hurt and loss families and students have experienced over the last couple of years is profound. Responding to this crisis will take bold leadership, innovation, and a commitment to centering the needs of the students most impacted by the pandemic. Our students deserve access to high quality after school programs and tutoring. We call upon you to invest in our students and the future of California by implementing these priorities in the next California state budget.