Statement from Commissioner of Education Dr. Tony Bennett on Supplemental Educational Services
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
PRESS OFFICE
(850) 245-0413
STATEMENT FROM COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION DR. TONY BENNETT ON SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
“We must demand the highest levels of accountability and integrity from supplemental educational services (SES) providers. We must hold the businesses and their leaders responsible for proving that the dollars directed to tutoring economically disadvantaged, academically struggling students produce the results intended. Our students deserve nothing less.
“The Department of Education will explore all avenues to make sure that students enrolled in SES programs will receive quality tutoring by professionals who are dedicated and committed to the educational success of each student.
“To do this we will focus on four areas.
· We will work to ensure that SES providers offer a safe learning environment, which includes requiring owners to pass background checks.
· We will work with the legislature to reduce costs so that they are appropriate for the actual services provided.
· The department will move forward to establish benchmarks to guarantee that each child is learning what they need to be successful in the classroom. We should know that our investment in our students is producing a return.
· And we will work to identify and eliminate fraud and pursue recovery of misused state resources. The department has zero tolerance for fraud.
“Supporting students whose families cannot afford the tutoring services their children need to do well in school helps ensure that all students in Florida have the kind of education that prepares them for success in college, career, and life.”
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About the Florida Department of Education: The department’s mission is to increase the proficiency of all students within one seamless, efficient education system by providing them the chance to expand their knowledge and skills through world-class learning opportunities. Serving more than 3.5 million students, 4,200 public schools, 28 colleges, 188,000 teachers, 47,000 college professors and administrators, and 318,000 individuals who work in education throughout the state, the department enhances the economic self-sufficiency of Floridians through programs and services geared toward college, workforce education, job-specific skills, and career development. Florida ranks first in the nation for teacher quality, first in the nation in advanced placement participation, and first in the southern region for graduation rate and degrees awarded by the Florida College System. For more information, visit www.fldoe.org.
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