Federal funding application due on 10/14 + New study shows how implementation affects student outcomes
National Student Support Accelerator
Equalizing access to high-quality tutoring in our schools via research, tools, and news. Within Stanford University GSE.
Here’s what going on…
What’s New: Two federal grants representing $250 million, with a deadline of October 14th to apply, prioritizes tutoring. Plus, a new district-wide study also highlights the importance of strong implementation. Virtual tutoring had little to no effect when staffing was delayed, tutors were inconsistent, and curriculum alignment was weak, reminding us that fidelity and consistency are key.
Why It Matters: As high-dosage tutoring continues to expand, as seen in the most recent national School Pulse Panel data, ensuring tutoring programs are implemented with quality, consistency, and alignment is essential. The right structures and tools can make the difference between ineffective support and transformative impact for students.
Thank you for all you do to support students,
Susanna Loeb
📊 Latest Research & Updates
New Study Teaches Us Importance of Getting Tutoring Right
Understanding not only why tutoring interventions are effective, but also why they sometimes fall short, can offer critical guidance for future implementation.
We present findings from a district-wide study of a virtual math and reading tutoring program, highlighting not only the results, but also the implementation challenges that likely explain them.
The results showed that this tutoring program had no effect on math achievement, no effect on a low-stakes reading exam (MAP), and even a moderate negative effect on reading (STAAR), compared to other studied interventions.
So what was learned from these results? Virtual tutoring needs to be implemented with fidelity when scaling. Here are the challenges found:
These findings underscore the importance of building district capacity to deliver tutoring with fidelity, consistency, and alignment to curriculum. Scaling high-impact tutoring without proper support, risks undermining its effectiveness. Providers and policymakers have the ability to support these implementation efforts for districts.
Urgent Federal Funding Opportunity for Tutoring
Recently, the U.S. Department of Education released two new grant competitions that affect the tutoring community. The grants represent more than $250 million in funding for evidence-based innovations that improve student achievement, with a central focus on literacy and competitive preference for high-impact tutoring.
The grants are:
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟰𝘁𝗵. If you plan to apply for one of these grants, DO NOT WAIT to get started.
For the most up-to date information on the FY 2025 EIR Competitions, visit the U.S. Department of Education's EIR program page for these grants.
📅 Events & Opportunities
CALIFORNIA EVENTS:
East Bay High Dosage Tutoring Innovation Forum
October 9, 2025 | 8:30pm – 2:00pm PT | Alameda County Office of Education
Join the Alameda County Office of Education on October 9, 2025 for the East Bay High Dosage Tutoring Innovation Forum! This one-day convening will bring together school district leaders, foundation partners, counselors, and education innovators from across the U.S. to explore how high-dosage tutoring is transforming student outcomes.
Silicon Valley High Dosage Tutoring Summit
October 10, 2025 | 8:30am - 2:00pm PT | Santa Clara County Office of Education
As the High Dosage Tutoring movement begins to spread on the west coast, Bay Area Tutoring Association (BATA), in partnership with Silicon Valley Education Foundation, National Student Support Accelerator, and the Santa Clara County Office of Education, will host the 2nd Annual Silicon Valley High Dosage Tutoring Summit. The summit will feature research insights from leading experts, success stories from local districts, and opportunities for networking between education leaders and philanthropic partners committed to student success.
PAST EVENT: Implementation and Sustainability: What Makes High-Impact Tutoring Work
This session continued the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading 's emphasis on high-impact tutoring as one of several“big bets” and smart investments identified by CGLR to accelerate learning recovery. More and more schools and communities are making a significant investment in this strategy. This week’s session pivoted from adoption of high-impact tutoring to successful implementation over time.
Acknowledging the challenges of implementation — such as finding tutors, scheduling, alignment with classroom learning, and other factors — this session gave participants the chance to learn from national, state, and local leaders about what they have done to make this intervention effective.
📰 News
Articles about High-Impact Tutoring
The Economics of Education Reform (Opinion) ( The Wall Street Journal , Roland Fryer )
High-Impact Tutoring: Built for Districtwide Impact (White paper) ( Education Week , Saga Education )
State and Local Updates
Oklahoma
Parents, Los Angeles Unified School District (CA) settle suit; Settlement Includes high-impact tutoring for 100,000 students over the next three years ( EdSource , Mallika Seshadri )
From struggling to soaring: How high-impact tutoring is closing the gap at Grand Haven Area Public Schools (MI) ( Grand Haven Tribune Newspaper )
Charleston County School District (SC) launches high-intensity tutoring program to accelerate student success ( WCBD News 2 | Count on 2 , Tim Renaud )
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT (NJ) Approves High Impact Tutoring Funding for ESL Reading and Math ( Citizen Portal )
WAKE COUNTY SCHOOLS (NC) haven’t resumed tutoring program. Federal funding freeze blamed. ( The News & Observer , Keung Hui )
How to Engage with NSSA
Complete the NEW High-Impact Tutoring Success Story Form to share a student or tutoring program success story from your school, district, or program for us to include in our forthcoming Tutoring Storybook on the NSSA website.
Please reach out to info@studentsupportaccelerator.org with any questions or ideas.
Follow and engage with the NSSA on Social Media:
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This is a fantastic initiative that will undoubtedly empower many tutoring programs to enhance their impact. The focus on evidence-based innovations is vital for driving student success. Thank you for sharing this valuable information! https://hi.switchy.io/T5Jn