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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Dan Surra |
  
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St. Marys Area School District to receive $77,000 for tutoring efforts
HARRISBURG, Aug. 7 – St. Marys Area School District will receive $77,230 in state funding during the coming academic year to provide targeted tutoring services to students in middle school and high school whose academic performance lags significantly behind their fellow students, according to state Rep. Dan Surra, D-Elk/Clearfield.
Surra said the funding will come from the state's Educational Assistance Program, which was created by the legislature in 2003-04. The program was initially offered to 63 of the state's most academically challenged school districts, but has since been expanded to help students in 163 school districts and 12 career and technical schools.
"Under the increased focus on education in Pennsylvania during the past six years, students and schools in general have seen an increase in academic achievement," Surra said. "But there will always be students who need extra attention and assistance. This program is aimed at them, and helps school districts to provide the targeted tutoring and extra class time these students need – particularly in reading and math – to succeed in school and after they graduate from school."
Surra said this year's state budget includes $65.1 million for the Educational Assistance Program. The tutoring programs offered through the initiative provide additional instruction before and after school, and on weekends, for eligible students. The tutoring services are aligned with the state's academic standards and students' regular class curriculum.
More information on state funding for education in the 2008-09 budget is available by visiting www.pahouse.com.
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