Students on

the verge of failing reading and math may soon have a formalized program

of remedial study funded through House Bill 1187, commonly known as the

A+ Reform Act, according to Stuart Bennett, Fayette County's assistant

superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

While no firm

guidelines have been issued from the state Department of Education yet,

Bennett said the initial plan calls for time equalling 20 extra days offered

after school and in late summer.

It would require

about 40 teachers in Fayette County working one to two extra hours per

day to make the program work, Bennett estimated.

"We expect

this to be implemented very soon... we have to identify lead teachers

and get the teachers on board," Bennett said. No guidelines for teacher

pay have been handed down from the state to date, but Bennett said teachers

would require "a fair wage to do this."

Remediation

is expected to begin in grades kindergarten through five, with middle

schools and high schools to follow. Bennett conceded that one consideration

the state did not make at this point, is funding for transportation.

"They

may have created an Achilles heel leaving out transportation," he

said, referring to the funding plan.

But with changes

"coming down almost daily," according to Bennett, the transportation

issue may eventually be addressed.

"In the

future, remediation will cover more than reading and math, Bennett said,"

"It will cover science and social studies as well."