Indiana tutoring grant program looks to tackle pandemic learning loss

 

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. --- Some local Hoosier students are excited to take advantage of a new statewide grant program called Indiana Learns, set to provide low-income families with up $1,000 to support tutoring for those who faced pandemic learning loss.

“It’s my senior year, it’s my last year and I have to catch up for those two years that I missed,” said Joe Ficklen, a high schooler at Rise Up Academy in South Bend.

Ficklen is a senior who experienced pandemic learning loss firsthand.

“It was really hard for me. I kind of got really bad grades the entire time because it was all online and I struggled learning unless someone’s like, helping me out directly.”

These kinds of pandemic setbacks are something the newly launched Indiana Learns program is aiming to curb.

It will provide students funding to support tutoring for English, math, and some qualified out-of-school academic programs.

“It’s really important for all of us to work together to support children who are experiencing learning loss,” said Marissa Gebhard, the Communications Manager with the St. Joseph County Public Library.

In 2022, statewide ILearn testing scores saw a slight uptick in both English and math, but they were still below pre-pandemic results in 2019.

It's one of the biggest reasons why local programs like the St. Joseph County Public Library said they are also ramping up free resources for students.

“We have a number of free online resources that our patrons can use, one of those is Brainfuse. People can access free online expert tutoring from 2-11 p.m. every day, including weekends. So, they can ask questions, they can meet with tutors,” explained Gebhard.

The increase in statewide and local resources is something students like Ficklen believe could help them succeed this school year.

“Me and my siblings too, they would definitely want this,” said Ficklen. “I’m trying to get as much help as I can and graduate hopefully.”

The Mind Trust is partnering with the Indiana Learns program, which is funded through federal dollars.

More information about the program can be found here.

Information about the resources at the St. Joseph County Public Library can be found here.