Gov. Nixon Announces $500,000 for Tutoring and Enrichment Services for Students in St. Louis

Press Release

Gov. Jay Nixon today joined Senator Jamilah Nasheed and Alderman Antonio French at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) to announce $500,000 to expand access to math and science tutoring and enrichment programs to an additional 350 students from low-income families in St. Louis. The in-school and after-school tutoring services will be provided through a new partnership between the College of Education at UMSL and The North Campus, an organization founded by Alderman French to provide targeted, intensive educational supports to help lift students and their families out of poverty.

"Over the past five years, we've made good progress toward giving all Missouri children access to a world-class education, but too many students are still growing up without seeing a clear path to academic achievement and economic independence," Gov. Nixon said. "That's why innovative partnerships like the one we're announcing today are so important to ensuring every Missouri student has the tools they need to succeed. This is a smart investment in our kids that will have a huge return for families in this community and the economy of this region."

This funding will be provided by the Department of Social Services to the College of Education at UMSL through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The partnership between UMSL and North Campus will also provide additional opportunities for UMSL students to volunteer their time and gain hands-on experience.

"The North Campus provides the kind of proven, early-intervention services our students need to get on the path to success and that's why I've been proud to be a strong supporter of this program from Day One," said Sen. Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis). "I thank Governor Nixon, Alderman French and the University of Missouri-St. Louis for working in a collaborative way to give more students in this area access to these much-needed services."

"We know that education is vital to building economic opportunities in this region," said St. Louis Alderman Antonio French. "At The North Campus, we've first-hand the huge impact these programs can have on student achievement and that's why we are thrilled to be partnering with UMSL to reach even more students and families. On behalf of the hundreds of students we serve, I thank Governor Nixon, Senator Nasheed, UMSL, and all of our partners for their strong support."

Gov. Nixon has made public education in Missouri a top priority of his administration. Even during the height of the recession, Gov. Nixon worked across the aisle to balance the budget every year without raising taxes or making deep cuts to K-12 classrooms. Math and reading scores have increased on his watch and Missouri's high school graduation rate is now the eighth-highest in the nation. Missouri has also taken strides to close the gap in high school graduation rates between white and minority students. Since 2011, the disparity between white and African-American students' high school graduation rates has decreased by 6.2 percentage points.

North Campus provides in-school tutoring and after-school tutoring and enrichment programs for students in north St. Louis. Founded by Alderman French in 2012, North Campus aims to coordinate an expansive network of partnerships working together for a common goal: providing the children of the North Campus with a world-class education and an enriching childhood experience so that they will ultimately lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

Partners include St. Louis Public Schools, Teach For America, the Incarnate Word Foundation, the YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club, the St. Louis Dream Center, the Fathers Support Center, the North Newstead Association, the St. Louis Chess Club, and student groups from St. Louis University and Washington University in St. Louis.

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