Many school systems have initiated student tutoring programs or expanded the availability of tutoring services to make up for learning loss as a result of the pandemic. In fact, more than four out of five schools said they were offering at least one version of tutoring this 2022-23 school year, ranging from traditional after-school homework help to intensive tutoring.
But not all tutoring delivers the same impact, according to a federal survey. To close achievement gaps and optimize the effectiveness of tutoring, K-12 leaders should ensure their students have access to high-impact tutoring. This is a form of one-on-one or small-group instruction that leads to significant learning gains for students by supplementing their regular classroom experience, according to the National Student Support Accelerator.
“High-impact tutoring responds to individual needs and complements students’ existing curriculum,” the organization says. It’s an intentional, multifaceted program focused on learning acceleration, rather than remediation. High-impact tutoring shares certain fundamental characteristics that have been proven to accelerate student learning through rigorous research.
When students receive high-impact tutoring, the results can be dramatic: In studies where students were randomly assigned tutoring, average gains were equivalent to moving a child from the 50th to the 66th percentile in achievement. Growth of this magnitude roughly equates to five months of learning beyond students’ standard progress.
Is your student tutoring high-impact?
Here are five questions that K-12 leaders should ask to ensure they’re implementing high-impact tutoring within their district to see impactful results for their students.
1. How often does tutoring take place? Research shows the most effective tutoring involves three or more sessions per week, lasting 30 to 60 minutes. One session a week is simply not enough to produce meaningful gains. What’s more, the tutoring should last for a long enough period of time to move the needle on achievement—typically at least ten weeks in duration.
2. Does it take place during school hours? While there are many options to implement tutoring (after-school programs, one-on-one, dedicated school time, etc.,), a program that is integrated into the regular school schedule has shown greater learning gains than sessions occurring after school or even during the summer, a recent meta-analysis found. Every district and individual school should assess what kind of tutoring program they are able to offer its students but keep in mind that tutoring during the school day increases the likelihood that students will attend and supports a more academically focused culture.
3. How many students does each tutor support? Although one-on-one tutoring is the best delivery model, research suggests that tutors can effectively instruct up to three or four students at a time—with successful outcomes across a broad range of subjects. However, exceeding this number quickly results in diminishing returns.
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4. Who’s providing the instruction? Building strong relationships with students is key to boosting achievement, so it’s no surprise that tutoring programs that pair students with a consistent tutor for the duration of the program deliver better results. When tutors meet regularly with students, they have the best opportunity to get to know those individual learners and develop a deeper understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. Research also indicates that when students have positive relationships with their tutors, they’re more motivated, have better attitudes, and feel empowered to succeed.
5. Is the instruction aligned with classroom content? Lastly, research demonstrates that using high-quality instructional materials aligned with classroom content is a critical element in effective tutoring. Using curriculum-aligned materials allows tutors to support and reinforce the instruction taking place in the classroom.
For tutoring to have a measurable impact, school and district leaders must invest in the process to ensure their programs follow an effective method for outcomes. Students should develop a healthy, positive relationship with a consistent tutor in a one-on-one or small group setting, and the materials that are used should be of high quality and should align with regular classroom instruction.
Next steps for district leaders
K-12 leaders can ensure that their tutoring programs produce meaningful gains and have a measurable impact on student achievement with the considerations above. Once schools have selected a tutoring program, the real work begins. Utilizing available resources—such as implementation checklists and leveraging your tutoring support team—will lead to a strong foundation to support student success through tutoring.
