City’s public schools to offer learning recovery tutoring

Three-phase pandemic action plan will focus on math, literacy and ‘foundational skills’

All Hamilton public schools will be offering tutoring supports to any student who has fallen behind on their studies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Associate director Sue Dunlop said a $4.4-million learning recovery action plan funded by the province will be rolled out in three phases, starting with after-school tutoring that will begin as soon as possible and run until the end of the school year.

For elementary grades, occasional teacher-led groups will have a maximum of 15 students and get tutoring for three to four hours per week.

The sessions will focus on math, literacy and “foundational skills,” including for English-language learners, she told trustees in a presentation at their April 25 board meeting.

At high schools, students will be offered one-hour sessions outside the instructional day three times per week, either in person or online, to help them rescue credits or complete ones they are already studying. Groups will also have a maximum of 15 students.

Dunlop said Phase 2 will offer tutoring in July and August, using the summer literacy and numeracy camp model for elementary students to also tutor foundational skills.

Summer high school tutoring will include learning strategies courses, reach-ahead programs for students entering Grade 9, and literacy and math help for students in Grades 7 to 10, she said.

Dunlop said the final phase for all students, to run from September to December, will be determined by the success of the first two phases.

“We’ll really be looking at, so what really worked for Phase 1 and Phase 2, and how can we take those and implement change, improve, maybe add things from September to December that were successful or perhaps needed a different approach,” she said.

Trustee Becky Buck said she appreciates the board received little time to implement the programs, but questioned if the board can offer tutoring during the instructional day, as allowed by Ministry of Education guidelines.

Dunlop said the board presently lacks teachers to offer daytime tutoring because of ongoing staff absences that are being filled by occasional and emergency uncertified teachers.

“That may be something we can look at probably in the fall,” she said.

Dunlop said the province’s funding covers transportation and the board will ensure it isn’t a barrier to participation in after-hours or summer programs.