students of color achieve at the same rate as white students
Kevin was frustrated with Algebra until the Schools of Hope tutoring program gave him the extra boost he needed to succeed.
Kevin, a freshman at La Follette High School in Madison, was struggling with algebra and ready to give up. "I wouldn't even open the book," says Kevin, "because I knew I didn't get it." That's when a United Way Schools of Hope partner from the Urban League of Greater Madison set Kevin up with a trained tutor. Kevin met with his tutor, Dale, every week during his study hall to practice algebra. "He would explain things to me if I didn't get them, and would come up with extra problems for me to practice," says Kevin. Immediately, Kevin felt more confident about algebra and by the end of the semester, Kevin was able to raise his failing grade to a C. Through this program, United Way of Dane County is working to ensure more students pass algebra by 10th grade, as research shows that those students who do so are more likely to continue on to and graduate from college. Thanks to Schools of Hope tutoring services which collaborate with Madison Metropolitan School District teachers, Kevin is looking forward to Geometry next year and anxious to continue his education in college.