The Osage Nation Education Department has partnered with the Sylvan Learning Center to offer satellite Sylvan Learning Center sites in Pawhuska, Hominy and Fairfax to offer tutoring for all students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade.
“We stated some of the barriers that our children and families face in our rural communities, such as lack of transportation and gas money needed to commute to the Sylvan sites,” said Mary Wildcat, ON Education Department director. “Sylvan-Owasso will be sending professional tutors to Osage County to tutor our children. We prefer that the tutoring take place at the school sites after school so that the commute is easier for our students and parents.”
The partnership is not just for Osage children, but for all children, she said. Aaron Brown, a representative from the Owasso-based Sylvan center, and Wildcat met with the Superintendents for the Pawhuska, Hominy and Fairfax schools and all three school districts approved of the satellite sites.
Parents for the Pawhuska School District can sign their children up for the Sylvan tutoring program during the Parent Teacher Conference this evening (Sept. 21) at the Pawhuska Elementary School, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“We are currently working with the other school districts (Hominy and Fairfax) to set up enrollment nights for their communities,” she said. “Following the enrollment nights, Sylvan will be coming to the satellite sites to assess our kids. We hope to kick off the tutoring program right after October 1st!”
The Nation already provides tutoring for Osage children Kindergarten through 12th grade through their Osage Nation School Support Program (ONSSP).
“I feel like this opportunity (with Sylvan) will be better for the kids,” she said. “They will have the opportunity to work with a refreshed professional tutor after school.”
She said parents of legally-enrolled Osage children can apply for funding assistance through the Osage Nation’s Nationwide Academic Tutoring Program (NATP). They will be accepted for assistance based on eligibility requirements. Parents of non-Osage children will be responsible for payments through Sylvan, she said.
Nationwide Academic Tutoring Program
The NATP is for Osage students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. The program is provided for those students performing below grade level in English Language Arts (reading and writing), math, science or history. It also applies to those students who performed below state standards in any state-mandated test; or those students struggling to maintain a “C” or lower in any subject.
Parents will be required to provide a copy of grades before a student is accepted, and upon acceptance will be required to provide grades every five to nine weeks. Attendance is required to participate in NATP.
Osage Nation School Support Program
According to the Education Department’s website, “The ONSSP provides academic services and assistance to legally enrolled members of the Osage Nation. In order to qualify, students must be enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth (K-12th) grade at a public school located in Osage County. A Tribal Education Advocate will monitor each enrolled student’s grades and attendance, obtain tutoring support if needed, and help them navigate through the college search, enrollment, and application process.”
For more information on the Sylvan tutoring program, please contact the Osage Education Department at (918) 287 5300 or visit the Education’s website at https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/what-we-do/education-department
By
Shannon Shaw Duty
Original Publish Date: 2017-09-21 00:00:00
