Homework Hotline Lands Funding, Expands Program
Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded a $2.85 million grant to support Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Homework Hotline. The school says the funding will allow Homework Hotline to strengthen its virtual presence with new technology.
Rose-Hulman says, beginning in the 2018-2019 academic year, the Homework Hotline will start collecting aggregate information from tutoring sessions in order to identify specific knowledge gaps in science and mathematics among students.
“We’re seeing more students using the Homework Hotline’s online services each year. We want to continue remaining on the forefront of advancements in technology that make students most comfortable in getting help from our tutors,” said Susan Smith Roads, director of Homework Hotline. “We are looking forward to collecting this information so that we can share it with educators, parents and other stakeholders and work collaboratively to strengthen students’ math and science skills and encourage their interest in STEM."
The grant will also support the expansion of the Homework Hotline’s Student Ambassador Program. Rose-Hulman says the program brings tutors back to campus in mid-August to visit area schools operating on a balanced calendar schedule. The expansion will allow tutors to meet virtually with students, teachers, guidance counselors and administrators throughout the state.
Homework Hotline’s student tutors conducted nearly 34,000 tutoring sessions during the 2016-2017 academic year. Since its inception in 1991, more than 637,000 sessions have taken place.
The Homework Hotline runs from early September to mid-May, except for holiday breaks, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. You can find more information by clicking here.