Gary’s Steel City Academy charter school has received state Indiana Learns funding for ILEARN tutoring services for up to 91 students.
“We got this grant last year and saw exponential growth of an 81% IREAD pass rate,” said Steel City executive director Katie Kirley on Tuesday. “We know this program yields a huge impact.”
Indiana third graders who don’t pass the IREAD must repeat third grade unless they qualify for an exemption.
Last year’s tutoring program, funded by the Indiana Department of Education and Indianapolis-based nonprofit Mind Trust, focused on IREAD improvement, said Kirley.
This year’s tutoring sessions target ILEARN skills for students in grades 4-8.
Kirley said the school will offer 23 one-hour after-school sessions a week based on performance data in areas where students struggle.
Teachers and Kirley herself are doing the tutoring, which began Nov. 24. Each student will receive about 15 sessions.
Students can sign up through Dec. 19.
The program runs into April as students prepare to take the ILEARN exam.
“Winning a competitive grant like this from Indiana Learns is a game-changer for Steel City Academy students, and we’re excited at what our students will accomplish with the help,” Kirley said.
While enrollment is capped at 91 students, Kirley said she expects to attract about 70 students, up from 58 last year.
She said the school began seeing stronger growth on the English/language arts portion of ILEARN last year, with an 8% increase.
Launched in 2022 with federal pandemic assistance to counter learning loss, the tutoring program was disrupted last spring when funding ran out because of its popularity.
The Department of Education announced the resumption of the tutoring program last month.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
