Modesto NAACP tutoring program improves Black student performance. How to apply

To improve test scores among Black youth, Modesto City Schools teamed up with the local NAACP for a tutoring and mentorship program to support students facing academic, social and emotional challenges.

This initiative, the NAACP Tutoring and Mentor Program, was born three years ago out of a concern for the academic and emotional well-being of students, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With a focus on Black and biracial youth, Khani Gustafson, the NAACP interim president at the time, proposed the program to the school district during the pandemic. She recognized that these students already were facing significant challenges before COVID-19 and were likely to struggle even more during and after the crisis.

“The invisibility of our students was horrendous,” Gustafson said. “We don’t have a large population of African Americans in Modesto, but it’s still a significant and valued population, and we’re so grateful to Modesto City Schools for their willingness to address this issue head-on.”

Gustafson said Black students had the lowest scores in the district on state tests, with their graduation rates also declining by 10% in the 2022-23 school year compared to the previous year.

The NAACP also partnered with LearningQuest - Stanislaus Literacy Centers, making the program more community-driven.

Initially, the program was conducted virtually, and then became in-person and embedded within after-school programs at Fremont Elementary School and Roosevelt Junior High. The past 2023-24 school year, the program was expanded to Franklin Elementary.

The tutors, from diverse backgrounds, provide one-on-one or small-group support, helping students with homework and offering social-emotional guidance.

“I know our teaching population doesn’t necessarily, at this moment, mirror our student demographics, and so that was an opportunity for students to see someone that looked like them,” said Fallon Ferris, human resources director at Modesto City Schools. Ferris previously served as the district’s equity and intervention specialist.

All 50 students who joined the program two years ago improved their DIBELS scores, which measure early literacy skills like phonemic awareness, fluency and comprehension. Fourteen of those students moved up an entire proficiency level, showing significant progress in their reading abilities.

Academic grades have also improved, largely due to students consistently turning in their homework on time, Ferris said. Surveys show that students not only improved academically but also developed a stronger sense of belonging and well-being.

“They really wanted to come to school,” Franklin Elementary Principal Catherine Mullins said. “They loved the tutoring program. It was something that they really looked forward to. They knew that they were getting their needs met.”

She mentioned one fifth-grade student who initially struggled with behavioral issues. By the end of the year, the child expressed a desire to improve her grades and set goals for herself. She even made an appointment with Mullins to discuss ways to succeed on the state test.

“That’s just one example of the growth our scholars have made,” Mullins added.

The tutoring and mentorship program has benefited not only Black and biracial students but has expanded to support all students of color in need. Parents have been overwhelmingly supportive.

“The parents are saying that their children feel more confident. They’re more serious about school, and they’re already asking if the program is coming back,” said Brenda Patton, attendance liaison at Franklin Elementary.

At the end of last year, the NAACP began collaborating with Mark Twain Junior High to follow students as they transition into junior high, ensuring they continue to receive the support they need.

However, the program faces challenges, particularly in finding qualified tutors to meet the growing demand. Individuals who are interested in working as a tutor can apply at www.naacpmodestostanislaus.org/tutor-job-application .

“We’ve had a longstanding challenge with education in our city and in our county, and so this program really has the potential to help fill in those gaps,” said Gustafson.

Parents can call 209-896-9196 to learn more about the program and to enroll their children.