PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Administrators at Henry C. Lea Elementary School in Walnut Hill say a partnership with the University of Pennsylvania is showing early dividends.
On the first floor of the elementary school located at 47th and Locust streets, there are desks in the corridor where first, second, and third graders get individual tutoring in reading and math. It's where the University of Pennsylvania's five-year, $4 million commitment to the school is making a difference, said Lea elementary Principal Aaron Gerwer.
About 50 Penn graduate and undergraduate students work with Lea elementary students in 20-minute sessions.
"We established the tutoring program last year seeing the gaps caused by COVID," Gerwer said, "and we targeted a specific grade of students and our very youngest learners."
"Penn provides us financial support, they provide staff members who do a lot of the work in the building, and they also open their doors to collaboration and brainstorming with us different ideas for programs with the students."
Gerwer said in standardized tests last year, 40% of students scored proficient in English Language Arts, which is up 4%. Math scores grew 7%, to about 22% proficient.
"We had the highest data in every category on record. So I think it's a good indicator, but I think we're still turning the corner as to where we can get to."
The district showed off the tutoring program Monday as part of a media tour marking American Education Week.
Superintendent Tony Watlington has "high dosage" tutoring on his list of strategies to improve achievement in Philly schools over the next five years.
