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Expanding Math Support to Charleston Students

As of the 2021 South Carolina College-and-Career-Ready Assessments, just 55% of third graders in Charleston County School District meet or exceed grade level expectations math. By 8th grade, that number falls to 41%, leaving the majority students unprepared for high school coursework and postsecondary and career options. The onset of COVID-19 exacerbates the need, especially in math (January 2021 SC EOC Report).

Research shows that concrete, targeted experiences with numbers in the early years can close conceptual gaps and prepare students for algebra, a graduation requirement (Kathy Richardson, Thomas Carpenter). Tutoring has been found to deliver significant gains in rigorous, recent studies (Pellegrini  M. 2018, Nickow A. 2020, Guryan J. 2021) and was recommended in the January 2021 report by the SC Education Oversight Committee. Teachers and families have limited capacity to provide one-on-one academic attention, but volunteer tutors can help.

Heart Math Tutoring gives young students successful experiences in math through one-on-one tutoring during the school day delivered by supervised volunteers. In each school, 50 students in grades 1-5 receive tutoring twice per week for 30 minutes. HMT’s activity-based, structured curriculum and on-site support from staff during tutoring enables hundreds of volunteers to be effective with a commitment of one hour per week and minimizes day-to-day work for school staff. Over 97% of volunteers rate the experience positive each year, and kids embrace the one-on-one attention, games, encouragement, and progress.

  • To date, 98% of over 3,500 students served have shown growth on pre/post assessments that meets the targets set by elementary math specialists at UNC-Charlotte and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
  • Comparison studies find that Heart students grow faster than non-Heart students in math on North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests and often retain gains into the subsequent year (see HMT Annual Report 2020, page 10).
  • Over 90% of teachers report that student confidence and/or enthusiasm towards academics increases because of Heart Math Tutoring.

A 501c3 nonprofit, Heart Math Tutoring grew to support over 20 schools and 1,000+ students and volunteer tutors in Charlotte, NC. A Charleston-based group of nonprofits and philanthropists are working to replicate the model in the Charleston region, where no math support exists yet at scale.

Support program growth!

In partnership with Charleston-area philanthropists and leaders, HMT expanded outside of Charlotte to the Charleston area during the 2021/22 school year. HMT completed a pilot program at Ladson Elementary School in Charleston County School District, thanks to financial support from Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, John and Lynn Cooper, Martha and Eric Eubank, J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Homes, The Joanna Foundation, Pamela Levy, Scott and Donna Olsen, John and Alexandra Read, and Social Venture Partners – Charleston.

From January – April 2022, HMT Charleston tutors supported 23 elementary students, 100% of whom met or exceeded program growth goals. HMT received positive feedback from the school leadership team and have been confirmed to continue a second year of programming. Additionally, HMT will be expanding to a second school site in the Charleston area during the 2022/23 school year, with plans to serve 100 CCSD students. 

Join the effort:

  • Donate below to support program growth to four elementary schools in 2023/24, providing 200 Charleston students with targeted, one-on-one math support. 
  • Sign up below to be one of 120 volunteer tutors needed for 1-hour per week starting in September 2022.
  • Volunteer to help with other operational needs (volunteer recruitment, curriculum materials assembly, and more) by emailing kelsey.ripley@heartmathtutoring.org.

Donate

Your support in securing $125,000 in initial funding has enable Heart Math Tutoring to launch programming for 100 students across two Tri-County Area schools in 2022/23, with opportunity to grow from there.

To make a donation for the 2023/24 school year, mail your gift or enter your information into the online donation form below. After entering your information, click the “Enter Payment” button and the payment fields will appear. If there is a problem with the form, please email rebecca.presnell@heartmathtutoring.org.

Please make checks payable to “Heart Math Tutoring” and mail them to:

Heart Math Tutoring
PO Box 30623
Charlotte NC, 28230-0623

Heart Math Tutoring is a 501c3 nonprofit, and all donations qualify for federal income tax exemption. 



Volunteer

In September 2022, 120 volunteers will be needed to reach 100 students in the 2022/23 school year. Volunteer tutors commit 1 hour per week and are paired with an elementary student who needs encouragement and hands-on activities covering foundational math skills (counting, addition, subtraction, etc.). Volunteers receive training, a volunteer-friendly curriculum, and assistance from an on-site HMT Program Coordinator who supports student growth and day-to-day logistics. No prior math or tutoring experience is required.

Volunteer Sign Up Form

Please share your availability in the form below to become a volunteer in the 2022/23 school year! Thank you for making a difference in the lives of elementary students! [gravityform id="45" title="false" description="false" tabindex="0"]

Learn More

Contact Director of National Partnerships, Kelsey Ripley, at kelsey.ripley@heartmathtutoring.org to learn more about the effort to bring math tutoring to Charleston elementary students and how you can help. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES  CHARLESTON STEERING COMMITTEE
  • Emily Gaffney,  HMT Executive Director
  • John Cooper, Committee Chair, Social Venture Partners Charleston
  • Eric Eubank, HMT Board of Directors, Pamlico Capital
  • Karen Fonkert, Ph.D., Charleston Southern University  
  • Marina Hart, Longshore Boats
  • Scott Olsen, PwC (retired), Social Venture Partners Charleston
  • Wendy Sheppard,  College of Charleston
  • Joseph Weston, PwC 
  • Dave Smith, Founding Program Director, HMT Charleston
  • Kelsey Ripley, HMT Director of National Partnerships
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