Booker Helps Launch 'Homework Help NJ'
12 December 2007 - 2:15AM
PR Newswire (US)
State Library partnership with PSE&G means free after school
homework help for students in 7 New Jersey communities NEWARK,
N.J., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The New Jersey State
Library, in partnership with PSE&G, and with help from Newark
Mayor Cory Booker, today launched a major initiative to offer free
homework help to the students, residents and users of seven major
public libraries around the state. Thanks to a new program called
"Homework Help NJ," students in grades 4 to 12 can get free help
with their math, science, social studies and English assignments
via the Internet. This online tutoring program delivered by
Tutor.com allows students with library cards to chat online with
tutors that can help them tackle their homework problems.
Spanish-speaking tutors are available for help with math and
science assignments. "Homework Help NJ" is designed to provide the
highest quality of one-on-one instruction. It is being piloted in
Camden, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Newark, New Brunswick, Paterson and
Willingboro -- and thanks to a $265,000 grant from PSE&G -- it
will also be made available to all students enrolled in NJ After 3
afterschool programs. NJ After 3 is a statewide network of
nonprofit run, after-school programs, currently serving over 15,000
children in more than 100 schools throughout New Jersey. "This is a
program that provides real value to the community," said Mayor
Booker. "By helping kids do better in school, we boost their
confidence and ensure that they stay engaged in academics, instead
of the activity on the streets. This is the kind of programming we
need more of, and the kind of public-private partnerships that I
encourage." With "Homework Help NJ," there's no scheduling, no
appointments and no traveling. Tutors are available online and on
demand, 7 days a week from 3 to 8 pm. Whether students need just a
few minutes of help or a significant amount of time to better
understand a complex concept, certified Tutor.com tutors work with
students to help them build their confidence and do well in school.
"Kids deserve equal opportunity to succeed, and this program helps
to provide that," said Ralph LaRossa, President & COO of
PSE&G. "We see tremendous potential in this program and are
providing substantial funding to bring it into communities that we
serve. While that's a good start, more support is needed. My hope
is that our corporate and foundation colleagues will step up and
join the effort in Year Two, so that even more students can get the
help they need." In addition to supporting students, "Homework Help
NJ" is a valuable resource for parents, grandparents and caretakers
who do not have the time or subject knowledge to help students with
their homework on a regular basis. "The New Jersey State Library,
through the NJ Library Network, has long been committed to the
education of young people and adults through a variety of programs
we have funded and encouraged local public libraries to offer,"
noted State Librarian Norma Blake. "The extra assistance available
to students in these cities from live Homework Help tutors has the
potential to instill a sense of success and accomplishment that
will carry forward into the school day. With PSE&G's generous
support, we hope to build "Homework Help NJ" into a program that
will expand and extend beyond its initial funding," Blake said.
Students who live in one of the seven designated towns can connect
to a "Homework Help NJ" tutor through their local libraries, or
from their home PC or Mac, with their library card number. The
program Web site is http://www.homeworkhelpnj.org/. In addition,
students enrolled in NJ After 3 can access "Homework Help NJ" at
local program sites. NJ After 3 nonprofit partner sites include
Boys & Girls Clubs, faith-based groups, museums, universities,
community development corporations, YW/YMCAs, and others. Tutor.com
has been delivering its Live Homework Help(R) service to students
in the U.S. through libraries since 2001. More than 2.5 million
homework help sessions have been delivered to date -- with an
average of 4,000 sessions each evening this fall. "Tutor.com has
made a long-term commitment to working with state libraries and
businesses to create successful public/private partnerships that
benefit kids," explained George Cigale, founder and CEO of
Tutor.com. "We are excited to work with both the New Jersey State
Library and PSE&G to ensure that students who need homework
assistance in New Jersey have access to instant help to reach their
academic goals." About New Jersey State Library The New Jersey
State Library has three bureaus: the Library Development Bureau
(LDB), the NJ Library for the Blind and Handicapped (NJLBH) and the
State Library Information Center (SLIC). It leads in the provision,
promotion and support of quality library and information services
to all people of New Jersey. The State Library, which is affiliated
with Thomas Edison State College, coordinates, promotes and funds
the New Jersey Library Network, of which we are a proud member.
Last year, attendance in New Jersey's public libraries was well
over 46 million with total circulation of almost 54 million. About
PSE&G Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is
New Jersey's oldest and largest regulated gas and electric delivery
utility, serving nearly three- quarters of the state's population.
Each year, the company and its employees invest millions of dollars
and thousands of hours to improve the quality of life in New
Jersey. The company's culture dictates that service to customers
and community go hand-in-hand. About Tutor.com Tutor.com creates
innovative, on demand homework help and tutoring services that
connect students to a professional tutor online the moment they
need help in math, science, social studies or English. Our network
of over 2,200 professional tutors has delivered over 3 million
one-to-one tutoring sessions. Tutor.com services include Tutor.com
Direct, an on demand tutoring service for families and Live
Homework Help, an after-school program offered at over 1,600 public
libraries. Tutor.com also powers two statewide, governor-supported
initiatives, HomeworkKansas and HomeworkAlabama. Tutor.com was
named to Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 Program for the New York
Region in 2007 and 2006, was honored as one of the 25 Best Small
Companies for Women 2007 by Working Mother and ranked in the
first-ever Inc. 5,000 list of the fastest growing private companies
in America. For more information or a free trial of the service
please visit http://www.tutor.com/ or call (800) 411-1970. About
New Jersey After 3, Inc. New Jersey After 3 (NJA3) is the first
state-wide, private, nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding
and improving after school opportunities for New Jersey's kids --
giving them the opportunity to participate in high- quality,
comprehensive, structured and supervised and enriching after school
activities. Currently NJA3 funds a network of programs serving over
15,000 children in over 100 schools throughout the state of New
Jersey. For more information, including a complete list of
afterschool programs -- please visit http://www.njafter3.org/
DATASOURCE: Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G)
CONTACT: Jenn Kramer of PSE&G, +1-973-430-6027 Web site:
http://www.pseg.com/ http://www.homeworkhelpnj.org/
http://www.tutor.com/
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