Published: August 20, 2008 10:15 pm            

Homework Hotline receives $2.7M grant

Lilly Endowment funds will provide three more years of service

TERRE HAUTE — In 2007-08, the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Homework Hotline fielded a record 44,151 calls from middle and high school students who needed help with their math and science homework.

Thanks to a $2.7 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, the free tutoring service will continue for another three years.

“Rose-Hulman is very grateful for the support from the Lilly Endowment to allow the Homework Hotline to continue serving the math and science needs of students throughout Indiana,” said Susan Smith, Homework Hotline director.

The program is gearing up for the new academic year. Starting Sept. 7, Rose-Hulman student tutors will be available Sundays through Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m. The toll-free telephone number is 1-877-ASK-ROSE (1-877-275-7673). Students also can submit questions and access a variety of math and science resource materials on the Homework Hotline’s Web site, www.AskRose.org.

Since 1999, the Lilly Endowment has provided $8.6 million to the program, which serves students throughout Indiana, said Gretchen Wolfram, Lilly Endowment communications director.

“Math and science have been problem areas for kids in school,” Wolfram said. The hotline has been an important tool in helping students strengthen their skills in those areas.

The hotline is not an “answer line,” she said. It assists middle and high school students in figuring out how to find correct answers.

The Lilly Endowment funds are used to pay the Rose-Hulman tutors, and the funds also are used for program operations and promotions.

With the latest grant, the hotline will increase outreach to help students in the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and other areas throughout the state.

The Homework Hotline will have more tutors available this school year to respond to more calls and online services. Smith estimated that more than 100 Rose-Hulman students will be employed as tutors.

During the 2007-08 school year, the Homework Hotline piloted an online, real-time tutoring system to further assist Indiana students. This project and other educational resources will be expanded during the next three years of the Lilly Endowment grant, Smith said.

In addition to working with schools, the Homework Hotline also has developed partnerships with Indiana libraries and school media centers as well as collaborations with community organizations that serve youth.

The goal is to encourage more awareness and use of the Homework Hotline, Smith said.

This year, the hotline will undertake some special outreach efforts with math and science teachers, and it will have a new online newsletter, she said.

The hotline’s Web site will have some ISTEP review material that can be used by students, parents and teachers.

In 2007-08, the Homework Hotline fielded 1,158 calls from Vigo County and 5,909 calls from Marion County. It served students in all 92 Indiana counties.

Use of the hotline has increased significantly since 1999-2000, when it fielded 5,563 calls. This past year, it received 44,151 calls.



Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.

        

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