HelpNow in California Makes the Difference
The California State Library has long embraced the vision that every individual should have the opportunity to receive robust education support from their public library.
Since September 2022, the Brainfuse HelpNow tutoring service has been the gateway to educational empowerment for millions of California students. Unfortunately, the state library's budget is threatened, and this invaluable service may be cut. State funding needs to be restored to continue California's commitment to ensuring that educational support is available to anyone desiring to learn.
HelpNow is designed to bridge the gap between need and availability, bringing educational support to the fingertips of those who seek it. The impact of HelpNow through California's public libraries has been immediate and profound. Over 1.3 million people have utilized the site since its start. The service is accessible anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Feedback reveals the profound personal and educational transformations occurring as a result: a dyslexic student celebrated the patient, tailored help that led to understanding; a daughter found clarity for her English assignment, avoiding the cost of paid services; a parent, overwhelmed by the complexity of her children's math homework, found support.
Send a message to the Assembly to
restore this critically important funding to the State Budget.
Governor Gavin Newsom has recognized the program as a valuable initiative enriching schools and creating opportunities for every child to flourish. However, the future of HelpNow is in jeopardy. The proposed FY2025 state budget threatens to erase the $3 million funding for HelpNow, potentially closing this vital educational conduit. The statistics speak volumes about the program's efficacy: 1,772,518 total uses in a single year, more than 1.4 million practice tests, lessons, videos, flashcards, and collaborative tools used, 120,000+ sessions recorded in each of the winter and spring sessions of 2024, and a staggering 93% of students reporting increased confidence in their homework after using HelpNow.
Brainfuse HelpNow embodies the progressive spirit of California's education system, which believes in the right to education for all. As a community of parents, educators, and citizens who believe in educational equity, we must rally to ensure the preservation of vital services like HelpNow. As a society, we must invest in our future by investing in education and the resources that support it. Let us come together to protect this valuable service and ensure that every Californian has access to the educational opportunities they deserve.