NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Christine Casey, Ed.D..
Interim Executive Director
1-203-910-8390

Stamford Achieves Wins State Approval to Provide Subsidized Tutoring Services

Stamford, CT; August 7, 2007 - The Connecticut Department of Education has accredited Stamford Achieves as an “Approved Provider” of tutoring services in math and reading for elementary students in the Stamford School District. Under this designation, Stamford Achieves will be eligible to receive reimbursement from the State for providing remedial instruction for up to 200 of the students who are not making adequate progress in reading and math.

Stamford Achieves is a community-based organization that is working to facilitate partnerships and programs to help the City and School District close the achievement gap that exists in Stamford. One of its first initiatives was the establishment of the “Tutoring Achieves” program at three community centers - The Boys and Girls Club, the Yerwood Center and CTE - where students from the Davenport and Springdale Elementary Schools could go for supplemental instruction in reading. To date over 100 students have received individualized tutoring at these centers from a corps of 16 active and retired teachers.

“This designation from the State is an important validation for Stamford Achieves,” said Len Miller, Chairman of the Board of Stamford Achieves. “Now that the state has accredited the program, “Tutoring Achieves” will be able to serve twice the number of students, when the program resumes on October 1.”

According to Dr Chris Casey, Interim Executive Director, the only limitation on the ability of Stamford Achieves to expand its tutoring program is the availability of qualified reading tutors.

“We are actively recruiting teachers – both active and retired – to work in the “Tutoring Achieves” program,” Dr Casey said. “We are committed to providing top quality remedial instruction until all of our students are able to reach their grade level in reading and math.”

Certified teachers who are interested in working on the “Tutoring Achieves” program this fall are encouraged to contact the office of Stamford Achieves at 358-2190.