Middletown Public Schools has been awarded a highly competitive grant of $500,000 from the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) as part of the Connecticut High-Dosage Tutoring (HDT) Program. This grant will bolster accelerated math learning interventions in response to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On October 19, 2023, Governor Lamont and Education Commissioner Russell-Tucker recently announced the distribution of $11.5 million to 46 school districts in a concerted effort to elevate high-dosage tutoring initiatives. The funding’s objective is to provide students with enhanced educational opportunities and continue to bridge the educational disparities exacerbated by the pandemic.
Middletown Public Schools has contracted with Smart Start Education, LLC, one of the CSDE’s approved companies, to provide the tutoring services. Middletown’s HDT program will serve approximately 400 students in grades 6 through 9, inclusive. The program will serve students who meet the eligibility criteria set by CSDE and who are not already receiving additional intervention.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos expressed his gratitude for the grant and its anticipated impact, "Through this generous grant, we aim to tear down barriers and pave the way for an incredible educational opportunity: small group, high-quality, high-dosage math tutoring. We anticipate that this program will assist our students to soar.”
The Middletown HDT program is scheduled to begin at the end of November 2023 and end in May 2024.
The Connecticut High-Dosage Tutoring Program was inaugurated in March 2023, initially allocating $10 million from the Elementary Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, with a primary focus on enhancing mathematics proficiency among students in grades 6 through 9. Due to heightened interest from various school districts, the State Department of Education increased its commitment to $11.5 million. More information from CSDE available here.