FOR RELEASE                                                           CONTACT: Henry Duvall
            July 26, 2006                                                                (202) 393-2427

 Urban After-School Pilot Tutoring Program
Expands in Second Year

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The U.S. Department of Educaiton has announced the expansion of the Supplemental Educational Services (SES) Pilot Program to include the Anchorage Public Schools and the Memphis Public Schools, joining the Boston Public Schools and Chicago Public Schools that are entering their second year of the pilot program.

The SES pilot program is a collaborative initiative between the Department of Education and the Council of the Great City Schools. The primary goal of this initiative is to increase the participation of low-income children in the supplemental educational services program of school districts identified for improvement under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

The school district, as well as private tutoring providers, will offer supplemental after-school tutoring to children enrolled in identified schools.

"The SES pilot program offers the opportunity to evaluate the impact on student achievement of the No Child Left Behind tutoring programs delivered by the public schools and by the private providers," said Council Executive Director Michael Casserly. "Our bottom line continues to be increasing student achievement."

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