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HeartMath tutoring expands to two schools; district says program currently carries no district cost
Summary
WSFCS staff reported mid‑year results for the HeartMath tutoring program: participation increased 56% to 106 students across Bolton and Easton elementaries, 124 tutors are involved, and HeartMath has raised $54,000 toward expansion; adding a third school would require $248,000.
District academic staff on Feb. 25 gave a mid‑year update on HeartMath, a volunteer tutoring program focused on early numeracy, saying the program grew from one to two schools and is meeting internal benchmarks for student engagement and concept mastery.
Paula Wilkins, chief academic officer, introduced the report and invited Elvitt Simington, K–12 math director, to present enrollment and outcome numbers. Simington said 106 students are enrolled in HeartMath tutoring: 58 at Bolton Elementary and 48 at Easton Elementary. The group reported a grade breakdown (Bolton: 28 first graders, 15 second graders, 15 third graders; Easton: 15 first graders, 16 second graders, 17 third graders) and that enrollment represents a 56% increase over last year.
The program uses 30‑minute sessions twice weekly during small‑group time; Simington said 41% of students had completed at least one concept notebook by session six (benchmarked at 25%) and 75% had completed one or more by session 10 (benchmarked at 50%). She said 124 tutors are participating, including 14 district staff members, and the initiative has an on‑site part‑time program coordinator and an advisory board.
Simington said HeartMath has raised $54,000 as of February 2025 and that $248,000 would be needed to add a third school next school year under the current expansion model. She clarified the program currently operates "at no cost to Winston Salem Forsyth County Schools." The presentation noted a possible expanded model used in Charlotte‑Mecklenburg that aligns tutoring more directly to grade‑level classroom instruction; that model carries an estimated additional cost of about $25,000 per school.
Simington also described family engagement strategies, including winter family events and take‑home games intended to strengthen numeracy outside school. Staff said they hope to expand to at least one more elementary school with external funding and welcomed community support for an April 17 evening event intended to promote numeracy and community involvement.
Board members thanked staff and had no substantive questions after the update.
