Union County Review

U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill, alongside New Jersey Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, Union County Commissioner Sergio Granados, and Kean University administrators, recently advocated for tutoring programs to mitigate learning loss due to the pandemic. The gathering took place at Kean University to launch a new tutoring initiative named the Managed Peer-to-Peer Tutoring program.

Set to begin in January, this program will involve Kean students acting as paid peer tutors for fifth through eighth graders. These services will be provided at no cost to families and aim to close learning gaps while aiding the training of future educators from Kean.

Kean President Lamont O. Repollet expressed the university's commitment: “As New Jersey’s urban research university, Kean is deeply committed to providing the critical support students need to thrive, from Pre-K through higher education.” He emphasized that these initiatives are essential for equitable student success across New Jersey.

Sherrill has proposed federal legislation called the Expanding Access to High-Impact Tutoring Act which aligns with state efforts led by Scutari and Ruiz. She stated her dedication: “As a mom of four, I’m committed to ensuring that every student... can reap the benefits of their Garden State education.”

Scutari described tutoring as an investment in youth: “By helping students recover from pandemic-related learning loss... our communities thrive.” Ruiz highlighted concerning statistics about reading proficiency among third graders in New Jersey and stressed the importance of innovative educational strategies.

Granados praised Union County's progress: “Together, we are building a sustainable model for academic success and community connection in Union County.”

Kean students also participated in the event. Makenzie Kuntz noted that tutoring helps both younger students and aspiring educators at Kean. Ashley Mendoza Tarazona expressed interest in becoming a tutor based on her personal experiences assisting family members with academics.