Tutoring That Actually Works

What research is telling us (and what real districts are showing) 

Let's be honest: the word "tutoring" can conjure images of after-school sessions that feel more like homework detention than actual learning. But when tutoring is done right—strategically, consistently, and with intention—it becomes one of the most powerful tools we have to help students catch up and get ahead.

And right now? Students need that support more than ever.

The unfinished learning problem isn't going away 

COVID-19 created academic disruptions on a scale we'd never seen before. A 2023 meta-analysis pooling data from 39 studies across 19 countries found that students lost about 0.19 standard deviations in achievement due to pandemic disruptions, roughly comparable to the impact of major natural disasters. Recovery has been painfully slow: according to NWEA's 2023–24 data, students would need approximately 4.8 additional months of schooling to catch up in reading and 4.4 months in math.

A 2025 Brookings analysis notes that while math scores show modest recovery, reading scores have largely stagnated, and full recovery in math may take 7 or more years without sustained support. But here's the harder truth: recovery hasn't been equal. Large equity gaps remain, and for many students, the supports they need simply aren't reaching them.

That's where high-impact tutoring enters the conversation, not as a nice-to-have, but as an evidence-backed intervention that actually moves the needle.

What makes tutoring "high impact"? 

Not all tutoring is created equal. Research from Stanford's National Student Support Accelerator points to five key elements that separate effective programs from the ones that just check a box:

• Small group or one-on-one settings (ideally 1:1 or groups of 3–4 students)
• A sustained relationship with the same tutor over time
• Alignment with classroom curriculum so students can immediately apply what they learn
• Ongoing assessment and feedback to keep instruction targeted 

When these elements come together, tutoring stops being a separate intervention and becomes an extension of classroom learning.

The numbers don't lie 

A comprehensive meta-analysis of 96 randomized evaluations found that tutoring programs following these principles yield an overall effect size of 0.37 standard deviations, equivalent to moving a student from the 50th percentile to nearly the 66th percentile. That's a massive impact within a single school year.

MIT's J-PAL and Stanford's NSSA have both contributed significant research showing that implementation details matter. Tutor training, clear lesson structures, and strong relationships all determine whether students actually make gains.

"It's not just about having tutoring," explains Courtney Lewis, VP of Tutoring Services at Carnegie Learning. "It's about having the right kind of tutoring."

Relationships are the secret sauce  

Ask any educator what makes a program work, and you'll hear one word over and over: relationships.

"I can't tell you how many parents have come to me and said, 'My child absolutely fell in love with their tutor,'" shares Amber Gascoigne, Director of Expanded Learning at Palm Springs Unified School District. "One of the biggest pieces teachers have seen is the confidence in their students—their ability to engage and interact with content in the classroom."

Angie Covil, Federal Programs/Intervention Coordinator with IEM's charter school network, puts it simply: "A person is less likely to take risks and engage with learning if they don't trust the person asking them to participate. Kids have to feel safe in order to learn."

Virtual tutoring can work when it's done right

Here's something surprising: emerging research shows virtual tutoring can be just as effective as in-person sessions when programs are thoughtfully designed. A 2024 peer-reviewed study found that secondary students receiving online math tutoring, primarily delivered by qualified math teachers after school, showed gains in test scores and grades, along with reductions in grade repetition and improvements in subject-passing rates.

The key ingredients? Small groups (even online), frequent and consistent sessions, alignment to classroom instruction, and tutor training explicitly tailored to the virtual environment.

"When all of these elements come together, virtual tutoring can truly replicate the impact of in-person programs while scaling access to more students," Lewis notes.

For districts trying to reach students who can't stay after school or log in from home during traditional hours, virtual options—both small-group sessions and on-demand tutoring—can be game changers.

Data is your program's best friend 

You can't improve what you don't measure. Effective tutoring programs utilize frequent formative assessments to track student growth, identify areas requiring additional support, and adjust instruction in real-time.

"You cannot do program evaluation if you don't have data to support it," Covil emphasizes. "And that data can't just be families saying, 'I really like it.' It has to be actionable, measurable data."

At the district level, data builds trust with families and stakeholders, clearly showing how tutoring supports student learning and whether resources are making the intended impact.

Flexibility is non-negotiable 

One theme echoed throughout real district implementations: flexibility matters. Palm Springs USD learned that middle and high school students needed different options than elementary learners. The solution? Saturday sessions and on-demand tutoring for grades 6–12.

"We want to value what families have going on," Gascoigne explains. "Find a time that better works for your day-to-day schedules, and then we can support you with that."

Ready to start? Here's the advice. 

For district leaders wondering where to begin, Gascoigne's advice is refreshingly straightforward: "Do it. Start small if you need to—maybe just middle school, or a certain grade level in elementary. Bite off a little bit before you take on a whole district."

Teachers are at capacity. The need is urgent. And the research is clear: high-impact tutoring works, and it doesn't have to be complicated. Our solution provides experienced, certified teachers as tutors, as well as curriculum alignment and flexible scheduling to districts that are ready to accelerate student learning.