I found this article in the New York Times, January 27, 2014 by Motoko Rich.
According to testing about half of the African American boys have not master basic math skills. there have been a few studies which show with intense tutoring and behavioral counseling in eight months they can learn three years of normal math.
Administrators understand that 'it is nearly impossible for a teacher in a class of 25 or 30 students to tailor lessons to individual needs, particularly with those who struggle to understand concepts they should have learned years earlier."
To meet the needs of these students experts are arguing an hour of tutoring a day can make a different. The tutor would be in the classroom with them keeping them focused. They can be paid only $17 per year because they don't need to be credentialed teachers. These tutors would not be having to manage large classes. These tutors might also need to help the students with emotional coping skills to calm themselves during classes.
Students who have faced failure in math probably don't have a lot of positive or stable adult role models and these 'new' tutors could make a difference in a life of a child.
I think the most important item for success is a change of attitude within the child. A child needs to determine they want to learn. By that attitude change, learning can take place.
