With an aim to bolster academic prowess among young students, LA County Library has announced the launch of its free Summer Stars tutoring program, dedicated to shoring up reading and math skills for grades 1-6, according to a statement obtained by LA County Library. Skye Patrick, Director of LA County Library, reinforced the commitment to aiding young scholars, stating, "We believe in the potential of every child, and our Summer Stars tutoring program is designed to help students shine brighter academically" while offering the personal touch of live, in-person guidance with credentialed tutors.
The novel program, spurred by parent appeals for additional educational support, offers two 4-week sessions with a focus on reading from June 18 to July 11 and math from July 16 to August 8, as detailed on the LA County Library's website. The sessions are slated to run from Tuesday through Thursday each week, requiring students to commit to half-hour slots, available between 1:30 and 4:30 pm, yet also providing enrichment activities for lingering minds seeking further intellectual stimulus.
Funding traces back to the American Rescue Plan and Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, representing District 56, who acknowledged the library system's integral role in community uplift, stating, “Libraries are foundational to the social and cultural development of our children, especially those in vulnerable communities where broadband access is limited." Calderon highlighted the ongoing educational deficits resulting from the pandemic but remained optimistic about the program's capacity to reverse these setbacks.
StudentNest, a tutoring company with a 20-year track record, has been tapped to furnish the tutoring expertise that the initiative demands, a decision that ensures professional and experienced intervention for students. Although the sessions are free, spaces are limited, and enrollment is addressed on a first-come, first-served basis, interested parties are invited to fill out an interest form on the library's site for a chance to snag one of the coveted spots available at the numerous participating LA County Library locations spread across the county from A C Bilbrew to Woodcrest.
The library's heritage stretches back to 1912, with the current LA County Library system priding itself in being among the largest and most forward-thinking library systems nationwide, seeking to offer culturally relevant collections, programs, and services to the diverse Los Angeles County inhabitants it serves through its web of 86 libraries and various mobile outreach vehicles, as outlined in their press statement.
