More than $700 million in tutoring fails to lift schools off improvement plans

On November 5, 2012, the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo documented that after a decade and more than $700 million in contracts to tutoring companies (Supplemental Educational Services, SES), 91% of public schools still fell short of No Child Left Behind. For 2012-13 the Department of Education (DE) placed 1,321 campuses on improvement plans — nearly double 2008-09 (730) — and 412 had been in that status eight to ten years, across all districts and levels.

CPI crossed the improvement list and DE school profiles with Comptroller’s Office data on 44 contractors. AMAR Education Services accumulated about $122.9 million (2002–2011), with a single year near $22 million; Institución Educativa Nets about $147.3 million; Pearson Pem P.R. about $115.7 million; Casa Grande Interactive (Operación Éxito) about $34.8 million (2006–2012). The tabulated total reached about $703.5 million in Title I, II, V and ARRA funds. Several firms defended their programs and blamed ever-higher annual targets; one admitted “saved” schools returned to the plan the next year; another said SES “are not a magic wand.”

On Puerto Rican Tests, Spanish and math showed no gains proportional to spending: when targets rose (e.g. Spanish to 83.18% in 2010-11), grade averages stayed far behind. At-risk schools faced corrective measures — change of principal, external management, charter or closure. DE denied CPI an interview; Federal Affairs invoked confidentiality. Puerto Rico had sought an NCLB waiver on October 1 (with 44 states); 34 already had one. Contractual obligation and reported spending ≠ academic results or theft.

Source: Centro de Periodismo Investigativo. https://periodismoinvestigativo.com/2012/11/700-millones-de-dolares-no-logran-salvar-las-escuelas-publicas/