Advertisement Mississippi schools face loss of millions in federal funds $19 million mistake could affect tutoring programs Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A $19 million mistake could leave thousands of Mississippi students without access to tutoring.Some 100 students get after-school tutoring at Galloway Elementary School through Operation Shoestring.“We have been able to see positive outcomes. Eighty-eight percent of our children have demonstrated academic growth. Ninety-five percent of our children are promoted to the next grade level,” said Amber May of Operation Shoestring.After someone at the state Department of Education misspent $19 million, thousands of students might not get that help this year, Jackson school officials said.“We’re confident that the Mississippi department is working closely with the U.S. Department of Education to help make that situation better,” said Abby Webley of Jackson Public Schools.They would have to make up for the $3.5 million shortfall.“In the event that something like this would happen, we have always had extra funds for after-school activities,” Webley said.School officials already set aside money to supplement what they’re losing in federal funds.“I think we can serve at least about 1,000 of those children because, you know, the intent of an after-school program is to keep it small, and you can’t server 3,000 kids with the funds that we’ve set aside. But the 1,000 that we’ve identified, they are our most at-risk children, and we feel that we are serving the children that have the most need,” Webley said.Two thousand other students would be left without after-school tutoring.“We will capture the needs of those children. Our teachers are dedicated. You know, they would probably come in for free, and many of us do because that’s what we do for children. So, I don’t think that the other 2,000 will suffer because we have a dedicated staff,” Webley said.Here’s a list of schools that could lose money and how much:Hinds County School District – $500,000Bolton/Edwards Elementary/ Middle K-8 150Utica Elementary/Middle K-8 150Canton Public School District – $499,650.00Goodloe Elementary K-5 100Porter Middle 6-8 100Canton Elementary 3-5 100McNeal Elementary K-.2 100Ruben B. Myers K-5 100Jackson Public Schools – $500,000Clausell Elementary K-5 120French Elementary K-5 125Raines Elementary K-5 150Woodville Heights Elementary K-5 100Blackburn Middle 6-8 100Brinkley Middle 6-8 125Peeples Middle 6-8 150Jackson State Kid's Kollege – $216,032.00Isable Elementary K-3 30Blackburn Middle 6-8 30Jim Hill High School 9-10 25 Focus Tougaloo College-Capital City – $200,000.00Capital City Alternative 9-12 40 Tougaloo College-Henley Young – $200,000.00Henley Young Juvenile Justice Center 9-12 40