Students at Clinton Junior High School who need extra help will be able to receive it at no cost thanks to a grant.

Jim Peck, principal of CJHS, indicates Illinois State University is offering grants to local schools through the Illinois Tutoring Initiative. The grant will allow teachers and aides to be paid during after-school tutoring sessions.

Mr. Peck feels students are still feeling the learning gap from the COVID pandemic. Currently, students are behind in math and reading so when the grant opportunity became available he said, "It was a no brainer."

Students are recommended for the tutoring program based on early benchmark testing and previous teacher recommendations. Mr. Peck anticipates more students being added as the program and school year continues.

Mr. Peck hopes that students recommended for the program will begin with tutoring sessions the first week in October.