This is in regard to the April 14 article headlined, "Lucrative brand of tutoring grows unchecked."
The intention behind the No Child Left Behind Law is certainly not to fill the pockets of people more interested in fleecing a federally financed tutoring industry than in meeting the needs of students attending a failing school. Any program that benefits education, health services or justice should be operated under the strict regulations called for by a 501c3 non-profit status.
In 1974, with students dropping out of a federally funded American Indian nursing program at Rochester Community College, we began a community support program for the students who remained. We founded Indian Center Inc., qualified for 501c3 status and received a three-year federal grant to secure a counselor at the college, cooperation with instructors and tutors, as well as assistance with available community resources for students and their families.
Funded at one-fourth salary as acting administrator, although a volunteer, my Social Security taxes had been paid. However, we landed in a higher tax bracket, so actually it cost me to volunteer. Consequently, I advocate a tax deduction for contracted volunteer time at a maximum of 40 hours per week, the minimum wage, and not to exceed 40 percent of taxable income while working with 501c3 organizations. All charitable human services should be on a 501c3 not-for-profit basis.
Joanna; C. Rovelstad
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Rochester;
