NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from Adrienne Nyamsi, Director of Tutor Our Children New York:

"We are extremely disheartened by the Board of Regents' decision today to approve New York State's waiver from various requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, without carving out an exemption for Supplemental Education Services (SES).  Today's decision sends the clear message that the New York State Education Department has completely ignored the pleas of thousands of parents who sent the Board of Regents letters and postcards, made phone calls and attended town hall meetings, to express their support for these vital services. The written decision itself acknowledges the 'numerous comments' received recommending the Department not change the current mandated set-aside of Title I funds for SES. In fact, it notes that our coalition submitted letters on behalf of 31 organizations, in addition to a letter from the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus that also recommended that the existing set-aside provisions for SES remain in place. Moreover, the State Education Department recognizes that in meetings attended by representatives of school districts, almost all of these representatives expressed strong support for the SES provision of the waiver.

At a time when families are facing economic hardships, this decision effectively eliminates vital free tutoring programs from those who need it most, low-income students in failing schools throughout the state. Almost 90,000 low-income students across New York State currently receive free tutoring services, which help bridge the achievement gap.  It is a sad day for these parents, when their children's education is simply left on the sidelines. This is the wrong decision at the wrong time."

SOURCE Tutor Our Children New York