| DCLPublicationDate: 7/1/99 DCLID: CB-99-12 AwardYear: Summary: Information regarding the waiver of the institutional-share requirement under the Federal Work-Study Program for students employed as mathematics tutors for elementary through ninth grade. July 1999 CB-99-12 SUMMARY: Information regarding the waiver of the institutional-share requirement under the Federal Work-Study Program for students employed as mathematics tutors for elementary through ninth grade students. REFERENCE: This letter supplements Chapter 7 of the Federal Student Financial Aid Handbook and "Dear Colleague" letters CB-97-12 and CB-98-6. Dear Partner: The enclosure to this letter provides information in the form of Questions and Answers on the new waiver of the institutional-share requirement under the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program for students employed as mathematics tutors for elementary through ninth grade students. This new waiver of the FWS institutional-share requirement is effective July 1, 1999, as the result of the regulations published on October 1, 1998. The Secretary has made improving student achievement in mathematics one of his priorities. To help ensure that students master the fundamentals necessary to stay on track for college and promising futures, the Department launched America Counts. "America Counts is sorely needed," said the Secretary last fall. "Today's students must master high-level mathematical concepts and complex approaches to solving problems to be prepared for college, careers of the 21st century, and the demands of everyday life." Research shows that extended learning time and personal attention can positively impact academic achievement and increase a student's interest in learning. Through the FWS Program your campus can establish or expand an existing mathematics tutoring program. Beginning with the 1999-2000 award year, we will authorize a federal share of up to 100 percent earned by an eligible FWS student if he or she works as a mathematics tutor for elementary through ninth grade students. This new program may provide more appeal to FWS students with an affinity for mathematics than the existing programs for reading and family literacy. This new program may also give you an opportunity to involve more FWS students in contributing to the educational success of our nation's school children. For more information about America Counts, please visit our web site at www.ed.gov/inits/Math. We have amended the FWS regulations twice before by adding waivers of the FWS institutional-share requirement. The first was effective beginning with the 1997-1998 award year. In July 1997, we issued "Dear Colleague" letter (DCL) CB-97-12, which provided information regarding a waiver for reading tutors for preschool age children or children who are in elementary school. The second was effective beginning with the 1998-1999 award year. In May 1998, we issued DCL CB-98-6, which provided information regarding a waiver for students employed as tutors in a family literacy program that provides services to families with preschool age children or children who are in elementary school. These letters can be found on the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) web site at http://ifap.ed.gov. This letter supplements DCL CB-97-12 and DCL CB-98-6 by providing information on the new institutional-share waiver for mathematics tutors of elementary through ninth grade students. The set of questions and answers attached here are specific to the FWS waiver for mathematics tutors. Since the answers to many questions regarding this new waiver are identical to the answers provided for reading tutors of children in DCL CB-97-12 and tutors in family literacy programs in DCL CB-98-6, we have not repeated all of the questions. We appreciate your assistance and cooperation as we work together to use the FWS Program to serve the needs of the community and give FWS students a rewarding and enriching experience as mathematics tutors. If you have any questions about any aspect of the FWS Program, please contact our SFA Customer Support Branch. Staff members are available Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) at 1-800-433-7327. You may also e-mail an inquiry to the Customer Support Branch at csb@ed.gov or fax an inquiry to (202) 260-4199. Sincerely, Greg Woods Chief Operating Officer Office of Student Financial Assistance Attachment A Attachment B Attachment C |