OKOLONA, Miss. (WTVA) -- Free tutoring services offered to Okolona students aim to ready them for the new academic standards and to prepare them for state testing.
The program is funded through a 21st Century Grant.
With less than two weeks on the job, but over 15 years in education, new High School Principal Branda Kornegny makes her way through the halls.
She said while she is new to the district, she's familiar with the expectations.
"A new year brings a different set of challenges and of course we have common core this year and that in itself will be challenging, but we are up for it," said Kornegny.
That's one of the reason the district is offering free tutoring before and after school to help students be successful in and outside the classroom.
After graduating 100 percent of its students last year, and the improvement that has allowed the district to transition out of conservatorship, leaders said the bar has been raised.
"I think it's more eyes on us. I think the students are expecting more from the school, I think the parents are, and I know the teachers are already prepared for it because they know what is coming," said Gloria Cox, project manager.
Their are a total of 100 slots available for high school students and 150 for elementary students. While the tutoring is open to all students, educators are being proactive-they are using past test data as well as classroom performance to identify some of the students.
"Once they get tutorial help, they come to the classroom and they are better able to perform and that increases their student achievement," said Kornegny.
"We are also encouraging our students. We are also building character for them as well as the academic part of their education," said Cox.
The tutoring is offered to students in grades three through twelfth grade. The program starts September 4.
