When federal funding dropped off, Guilford was forced to cut its tutor corps to one-third of its peak size in the 2024-25 school year. And yet, the district remains committed to tutoring because of the resilience it has fostered. Here's what Guilford's experience reveals:

Tutoring bridged critical gaps in teacher expertise. Pandemic-era reading gaps remain stubborn. To help young learners who have fallen behind in reading, many states—including North Carolina—required teachers to complete new training on research-based strategies for literacy instruction. As teachers completed hundreds of hours of intensive training, Guilford's tutors—many of them retired educators—immediately stepped in to deliver high-quality phonics instruction,
Tutoring generated relational support to spark student engagement. Tutors in Guilford provided more than lessons—they formed caring relationships with students. In middle schools, where students often encounter socioemotional challenges that hinder access to education, tutors helped reignite student motivation and reestablish school as a place of connection.
Tutoring strengthened school culture. The pandemic frayed teachers' sense of success in the classroom and initiated a precipitous decline in teacher work conditions. Support from high-quality tutors helped alleviate these constraints for teachers, especially by enabling them to tailor instruction to individual student needs. Over time, tutors became trusted teammates, easing teachers' workloads and fostering a school culture where everyone worked together to support student growth and success.
Tutoring helped rebuild the teacher pipeline. As the teacher workforce shrinks, Guilford's tutoring program emerged as a surprising talent pipeline. Graduate student tutors, now passionate about education, have expressed interest in entering teaching roles. Other tutors in the district have shifted into substitute or full-time teaching positions, filling critical vacancies. Guilford's initial experience with tutoring mirrors prior research showing that entry-level positions with exposure to education, such as teaching assistants, can yield a quality and highly persistent labor source for teachers.

A costly step backward?

Despite budget cuts, Guilford continues to adapt. With fewer tutors, the district has refined its tutoring model—prioritizing smaller groups, higher-quality sessions, with more experienced and qualified tutors.

Instant Insights /

Tutoring transformed one district. But the recovery is in jeopardy

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