$150,000 gift supports tutoring for Kentwood students

EducationNonprofit

Mar 2

Written By Staff

The Jandernoa Foundation has made a $150,000 gift to Hope Network’s Michigan Education Corps and Kentwood Public Schools. The funding will support reading and math tutoring by sustaining six tutoring positions serving more than 150 Kentwood students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Michigan Education Corps, an evidence-based tutoring initiative powered by AmeriCorps members, provides daily reading and math interventions designed to accelerate student growth and close learning gaps. The program currently serves more than 120 schools across Michigan.

“This generous investment from the Jandernoa Foundation ensures that Kentwood students will continue receiving the high-impact tutoring they deserve, despite uncertainty in statewide funding,” said Holly Windram, Executive Director of Michigan Education Corps. “Our tutors change students’ trajectories every day. Support like this is essential in helping us continue that work and in securing the long-term sustainability of reading and math interventions across Michigan.”

Since its launch in 2012, Michigan Education Corps has supported more than 30,000 students statewide. In Kentwood Public Schools, 77.6% of kindergarten through third-grade students receiving reading intervention have shown improvement, and 89.7% of students receiving math intervention have demonstrated measurable growth.

Michigan Education Corps had planned to deploy 157 tutors statewide this school year. Following changes to the state budget last fall, the program now has 84 tutors serving students in 36 schools across 14 districts, up from 66 schools in 24 districts at the start of the year.

With only 25% of Michigan fourth graders reading proficiently, according to state data, program leaders said continued community investment is critical to sustaining literacy and math progress.

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