Math tutoring at high-poverty Charlotte schools gets boost from Duke Energy
June 2, 2015
Heart Math Tutoring, a nonprofit group dedicated to helping disadvantaged students develop math skills, is expanding its programs in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, thanks to a $8,000 grant from Duke Energy Foundation.
“Math skills that students learn at a young age serve as a foundation block for their entire education career,” said Stick Williams, Duke Energy Foundation president. “Those skills advance other academic pursuits and help our young people meet and overcome new challenges as they prepare for the future.”
About 60 percent of economically disadvantaged children in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools perform below grade level in math, based on 2013-14 North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests.
“Lack of math proficiency can become a barrier to a student’s academic confidence,” said Emily Elliott, executive director of Heart Math Tutoring. “Math deficiencies also affect high school graduation rates and future job opportunities.”
To address that need, Heart Math Tutoring recruits, trains and supports volunteers to work as math tutors in high-poverty elementary schools in CMS. During the 2015-16 school year, its efforts will add two-to-three schools to the current five schools served.
About 265 volunteers spent one hour a week delivering a research-based, structured curriculum to students, as part of the program in 2014-15. With the addition of new schools, the organization will target close to 400 weekly volunteer tutors in 2015-16.
The Duke Energy Foundation grant will support program expenses at one of Heart Math Tutoring’s school sites, where 50 students, in grades 1-5, receive one-on-one instruction from a volunteer.
Program expenses include the cost of an on-site program coordinator, who supports the volunteers and communicates student progress to teachers, and the cost of tutoring materials.
“We’re very excited that Duke Energy Foundation has chosen to support Heart, and we’re encouraged by the shared focus on K-12 education for underrepresented groups, particularly in the areas of math and science,” Elliott said. “Financial contributions like Duke Energy’s make it possible for us to do this important work.”
Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization funded with shareholder funds and governed by a board of trustees. Duke Energy Foundation powers vibrant communities by funding programs that support our four investment priorities: education, economic and workforce development, environment and community impact.
Heart Math Tutoring
Heart Math Tutoring is a nonprofit with a mission to ensure that all elementary students develop a strong foundation in math and enthusiasm for academics by leveraging the powerful resource of volunteer time. Community members commit one hour per week to deliver an effective, hands-on curriculum through one-on-one tutoring sessions during the school day in Title I elementary schools.