Kamal Hamdan, director of the Center for Innovation in STEM Education (CISE) at CSUDH (courtesy photo)
Compton Unified School District (CUSD) has awarded California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) more than $2.5 million in contracts to provide programs that offer supplemental tutoring and instruction for CUSD students, and professional development for all the district’s middle school math teachers.
To improve student learning, CSUDH received $1.375 million to create and launch the Compton-Toros Academy (CTA), a new English and mathematics supplemental instruction and tutoring program for 3rd through 12th grade students at CUSD. The program, which was developed by CSUDH’s California STEM Institute for Innovation and Improvement (CSI3), serves 1,350 students and takes place outside the classroom each weekday after school and on Saturdays. The students will be tutored by CSUDH students and other educators who are trained and closely monitored by credentialed and seasoned CSI3 teachers.
“Unlike conventional tutoring programs, the students will be doing fun, hands-on STEM activities that they will look forward to each day,” said Kamal Hamdan, director of the Center for Innovation in STEM Education (CISE) at CSUDH, which oversees the CSI3 program. “Their parents will also be invited to participate so they may experience how their kids are learning, as well as learn along with them. Some of the Saturday sessions will have a carnival-type atmosphere.”
CUSD also approved a $1 million contract for CSUDH to administer the Project Reach torturing program during the 2016-17 academic year. Unlike the CTA, Project Reach places 200 tutors throughout the school district in K-12 classrooms each day during school hours to provide instructional support for K-12 students and teachers.
For CUSD teachers, CSUDH will be awarded a $160,000 contract to conduct professional development for all middle school math teachers throughout the 2016-17 year.
“The CISE program at Cal State Dominguez Hills keeps growing in reach and recognition in the region for creating new and unique programs that significantly improve educational quality and results for students,” said Hamdan. “Such large contracts are testament to our mission and commitment to educating youth in the local underserved communities that we serve.”
