L.A.

Schools Promote Free Tutoring for Some Students

September 23, 2003|Duke Helfand | Times Staff Writer

Los Angeles school officials on Monday urged parents whose children attend chron
ically underperforming schools to apply for free tutoring in math and English, w
hich begins in November.
The Los Angeles Unified School District mailed applications earlier this month t
o 186,000 students, from 104 schools, who are eligible for the extra assistance.
The federal No Child Left Behind education law requires school districts to pay
for supplemental tutoring for low-income students whose schools repeatedly fail
to meet testing improvement targets. To qualify, students must attend one of the
targeted campuses and receive free or reduced-priced lunches because of low fam
ily income. Applications must be postmarked by Friday, Sept. 26.
"We want youngsters who participate in this program to get something that will i
mprove their reading, math or language test scores," said John Liechty, associat
e superintendent in charge of extended-day programs for the school district.