4.1 Envisioning the Ideal Tutoring Provider

Choosing the appropriate vendor that fulfills the needs of everyone involved in a large, new initiative can be daunting. High-impact tutoring makes a substantial impact on students when it adheres to specific characteristics implemented with fidelity. Selecting a provider you will entrust with your students, time, and resources will impact student outcomes and overall satisfaction of your high-impact tutoring program. Section 4.1 shares tips and tools concerning selection criteria and marketplace insights to help develop a vision for your ideal tutoring provider.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

To prepare for selecting a provider, ensure you have completed the following tasks:

Identify a focus area for the district tutoring program to inform the selection criteria.
Review the Determining a Tutoring Approach Decision-Making Guide to identify where your provider must show strength to support the school.
Identify the district’s needs, priorities, and goals for partnering with a tutoring provider.

TUTORING PROVIDER SELECTION CRITERIA
Key Recommendations	Corresponding Resources
Review the Seven Elements of High-Impact Tutoring Selection Criteria.	Checklist: Seven Elements of High-Impact Tutoring Selection Criteria Reading: The seven elements of high-impact tutoring Reading: Guidance for Determining Tutor Type
Build a standardized rubric to institutionalize the selection criteria within district practice. The Tutoring Provider Comparison Table builds this rubric.	Template: Tutoring Provider Comparison Table
Adapt or add to the criteria to adjust cost effectiveness and constraints without compromising the integrity of the research-based practices.	Reading: Contextualizing the Impact of Tutoring on Student Learning: Efficiency, Cost Effectiveness, and the Known Unknowns

MARKETPLACE INSIGHTS
Key Recommendations	Corresponding Resources
Review the current marketplace trends to assess potential suitability for district implementation. Examples include NSSA Badging or use of AI to provide tutor support.	Website: National Student Support Accelerator News Website: Accelerate News and Blog One-Pager: NSSA Tutoring Program Design Badge
Search for product validation using the EdTech Index for technology products and EdReports for curriculum products (e.g. safe, evidence-based, inclusive, usable).	Website: EdTech Index Website: EdReports
Ensure online/blended platforms and technological programs follow student privacy and safety guidelines.

	PLANNING FOR LONG TERM
	Conduct regular marketplace reviews to stay updated on emerging effective practices. Update the selection criteria in response to emerging effective practices, preferably in a digital system, to ensure consistency in provider selection over time.

Aligned Standards

All Tutoring Quality Standards should be considered when selecting a provider.

District Playbook for High-Impact Tutoring