Tutor firms apply to offer exam help

Thousands of high school students are eligible for a voucher to help them prepare for the Utah Basic Skills Competency test and, so far, about 10 private tutoring businesses have applied to offer that aid.

That's according to a State Board of Education update on Utah's new $7.5 million voucher program, approved by lawmakers last winter.

"The procedures behind this have been really difficult to figure out, because tracking who passes and paying in a way that works is tough," said Larry Shumway, state director of educator quality and licensing who administers the program.

Vouchers can go to students who still are failing the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test by the end of their junior year. By that time, they've had up to three times to take the exam that determines what kind of diploma they'll get — if any at all.

Students whose scores are just under passing won't qualify for a voucher, Shumway said.

Vouchers range from $500 to $1,500, depending on how low the student's score is. Students can get as many as three vouchers, or one for each of the subtests in reading, math and writing, that they failed.

Up to 4,000 vouchers are available; some students will receive more than one, Shumway said.

The voucher will work like this: A student goes to an approved tutoring provider, who submits a claim to the State Office of Education prior to the basic skills exam. The state then will examine test results. If the student passes, the voucher money goes to the provider.

It's still uncertain whether providers will charge up-front fees, or how much they might be, Shumway said. But they cannot base fees on whether a student passes. If school districts charge fees, they'll be waived for low-income students.

School districts and potential tutoring providers will meet Aug. 15 to discuss the program, Shumway said. A list of approved providers, including all the school districts, likely will go out to eligible students near the start of school.

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