Arizona’s Free Tutoring Initiative Halted Due to Funding Shortfall
The Arizona Department of Education has unexpectedly halted a tutoring program aimed at mitigating learning setbacks caused by the pandemic, citing depleted funding. This program, established with federal COVID-19 relief funds, was geared towards assisting students in grades 3 to 8 who were struggling in core subjects such as reading, writing, and math.
Launched in the fall of 2023, the Achievement Tutoring Program had shown promising outcomes, with students demonstrating notable academic progress. “The results have been excellent as students who get this tutoring have shown significant academic growth,” remarked Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne in a press release dated October 16, which initially announced the program’s extension through the 2024-2025 school year.
However, just two months later, the program was terminated as funds were exhausted. Sylvan Learning, a private tutoring firm involved in the initiative, notified parents via email on December 23rd, stating, “As of Monday, Dec. 23rd, the state has announced that the ATP program has officially run out of funding.”
The department’s website confirmed this, indicating the conclusion of its eighth and final session. “The program was designed to continue until all allocated funds were utilized, and we have now reached that point,” the statement clarified.
Superintendent Horne had redirected $40 million in COVID relief funds to kickstart the program, enabling students to benefit from tutoring provided by both public school educators and private organizations. “There was a lot of interest in the program and the funds got used up,” explained department spokesperson Doug Nick. He added, “We had about $40 million when we started, but that was a finite amount.”
At the time of announcing the extension, approximately $11 million remained. Nick detailed the expenses, stating, “The last session was number 7, and that used approx. $4.5 million. Session 6 cost about [$3 million], and earlier sessions also had some costs paid.”
The depletion of funds was partly attributed to higher costs associated with private vendors. Federal regulations governing the relief funds precluded their use for compensating public district staff during the “liquidation period,” which was the timeframe for spending down the funds before their expiration on December 31. Consequently, services during this period were exclusively provided by private vendors, including Kumon and Mathnasium, which accelerated the expenditure of funds.
The abrupt cessation of the program surprised many families involved. Tiffany DiGiacinto, whose child benefited from the tutoring, was informed of the program’s end by other parents, not the department. She recounted, “We were gearing up for the next session, which was supposed to start in January when I found out that they’re closing the program without really any warning and, you know, right after they had actually announced it was going to be extended.” The free tutoring had supplemented her child’s in-school support, providing additional dedicated instruction weekly.
With private tutoring costs being substantial—Sylvan Learning charges about $50 per hour, while Kumon services cost $140 per month per subject—families face financial burdens in replacing the lost support. Sylvan did offer discounts to existing program participants who wished to continue privately.
The department expressed a willingness to reinstate the program should new funding materialize. “We would love to secure added funding but have nothing available right now,” Nick stated.
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