Middletown Twp. Hiring Tutors To Help Kids Who Fell Behind

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — To help Middletown schoolchildren who fell behind academically during virtual learning, the Township and school district is launching something called the Next Generation Support Program.

This is a program started by Middletown Mayor Tony Perry, who had to find ways to use the $6.4 million Middletown will receive from the American Rescue Plan (the pandemic recovery relief act).

So far, there will be two parts of the program: First, Middletown Township is paying to hire private tutors to work one-on-one with kids. Middletown is currently looking to hire current teachers, retired teachers and established tutors.

Perry said he hopes the tutoring will begin by the end of March. It will be offered out of the Middletown Library, among other places in town.

"I got this $6.4 million from the American taxpayers," said Perry. "People could say 'Oh, you should use it to pave my road.' But I think kids have suffered the most out of any group in the past two years of this pandemic. They have lived through and experienced something we never did as kids."

"We want to find tutors in as many subject matters as possible," he said. "We're hoping to host the tutoring at the library, probably in the Community Room. It's desperately needed."

Perry pointed to this report released in March of 2021 that showed higher-than-normal numbers of New Jersey third through eighth graders fell behind in math and English during the pandemic. A separate Dept. of Education report showed that New Jersey fourth, fifth and sixth graders fell drastically behind in math during virtual learning. New Jersey high schoolers fell behind in language arts, the state found.

Secondly, Middletown will make counselors from its Crossroads drug/alcohol prevention program available to children, high schoolers and adults. Middletown will host two free sessions, on Feb. 26 and April 2, which Middletown parents and teens can attend to learn more about signs of depression, anxiety and substance abuse in teens and kids.

Learn how to talk to your kids about stress, drugs/alcohol and what they are feeling. These sessions are entirely free and all are welcome; learn more here: https://www.middletownnj.org/7...

"Kids missed out on a lot in the 15 months they weren't in the classroom," said Perry. "We're 20+ months since the beginning of this pandemic and one thing that many parents have been ringing the bell about is the quality of education their kids were getting — not at the fault of the teachers, but just simply through the computer, the virtual classroom."

Middletown, like towns all across America, received $6.4 million from the American Rescue Plan, with one payment received last year and the second installment of federal cash coming in 2022. American towns have to tell the federal government how they will spend the money.

If you are interested in becoming a tutor or are a parent whose child needs tutoring, send an email to mayorsoffice@middletownnj.org

If you or your child needs help with mental health assistance or help with drug/alcohol, email Angela Pepe-Lage at apepe-lage@middletownnj.org All emails are confidential.

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