Building your own high-impact tutoring program from the ground up can create a sustainable, customized, and integrated experience. Creating an internal program by leaning on existing resources and school strengths can streamline the development process by eliminating the need to communicate with an external provider. This section explains essential elements required for district-led high-impact tutoring programs.
The content is organized into five components:
- 5.1 Developing a Plan to Build Your Own: This section guides you to assess pre-existing district characteristics and guide project plan development.
- 5.2 Designing Your Model and Pilot: This section provides the essential tools for districts to design a research-based tutoring model, check for instructional coherence and content alignment, and conduct a program pilot.
- 5.3 Selecting and Using High-Quality Instructional Materials: This section contains content about HQIM selection, implementation, and HQIM monitoring and adjustment.
- 5.4 Recruiting and Selecting Tutors: This section outlines recommendations to define clear tutor qualifications and utilize a clear recruitment and selection strategy to build a skilled tutoring workforce.
- 5.5 Training and Supporting Tutors: This section features recommendations and resources for tutor onboarding, pre-service training, ongoing coaching, and continuous program improvement to maintain robust tutor infrastructures.
Research Insights
Research provides the following guidance to create effective tutoring programs:
5.2 Designing Your Model and Pilot
- Successful tutoring programs follow structured design principles that ensure instructional coherence and maximize student achievement.
- For older students, it is recommended to have session lengths of 30 to 60 minutes, while younger students may thrive with shorter sessions.
- In terms of session frequency, it is recommended to schedule three or more sessions per week for a minimum duration of ten weeks.
- Frequent assessments of the program help tailor instruction to student needs.
- Scalable support systems depend on replicable tutoring structures that produce lasting impacts.
5.3 Selecting and Using High-Quality Instructional Materials
- Aligning tutoring sessions with high-quality instructional materials enhances student learning by reinforcing key concepts and providing targeted support where students need it most.
- Ensuring tutoring content aligns with school curricula improves instructional coherence and learning outcomes.
- Vetted, research-backed resources enhance student comprehension and retention.
- High-quality instructional materials support differentiated instruction and individualized learning paths.
5.4 Recruiting and Selecting Tutors
- A diverse range of tutors, including paraprofessionals, community members, college students, and classroom teachers, can improve student outcomes with appropriate compensation, training, and ongoing support.
- Recruiting individuals with subject matter expertise and a strong instructional background enhances program effectiveness.
- Diverse representation of tutors positively impacts student engagement and learning outcomes.
5.5 Training and Supporting Tutors
- Comprehensive training and ongoing coaching ensure tutors implement best instructional practices and maintain student engagement.
- High-quality onboarding tailored to the program context improves tutor effectiveness and retention.
- Tutors benefit from continuous professional development that reinforces research-based instructional strategies.
- Research shows that educators with adequate training are more likely to remain in their roles and demonstrate higher instructional efficacy.
- Assigning consistent tutors to students builds trust and improves learning continuity.
Read the Full Research
Bisht, B., LeClair, Z., Loeb, S., & Sun, M. (2021). Paraeducators: Growth, Diversity and a Dearth of Professional Supports. Annenberg Institute at Brown University. https://doi.org/10.26300/nk1z-c164
Cortes, K. E., Kortecamp, K., Loeb, S., & Robinson, C. D. (2025). A scalable approach to high-impact tutoring for young readers. Learning and Instruction, 95, 102021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2024.102021
Fryer, R. G., Jr. (2016). The production of human capital in developed countries: Evidence from 196 randomized field experiments. Harvard University and NBER. Retrieved from https://scholar.harvard.edu/sites/scholar.harvard.edu/files/fryer/files/handbook_fryer_03.25.2016.pdf
Makori, A., Burch, P., & Loeb, S. (2024). Scaling high-impact tutoring: School-level perspectives on implementation challenges and strategies. EdWorkingPaper No. 24-923. Annenberg Institute at Brown University. https://doi.org/10.26300/h8z5-t461
Nickow, A., Oreopoulos, P., & Quan, V. (2020). The impressive effects of tutoring on PreK-12 learning: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the experimental evidence (NBER Working Paper No. 27476). National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/10.3386/w27476
Podolsky, A., Kini, T., Bishop, J., & Darling-Hammond, L. (2016). Solving the teacher shortage: How to attract and retain excellent educators. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/262.960
Robinson, C. D., Kraft, M. A., Loeb, S., & Schueler, B. (2024). Design principles for accelerating student learning with high-impact tutoring (EdResearch for Action Brief No. 30). Annenberg Institute at Brown University. https://studentsupportaccelerator.org/sites/default/files/EdResearch%20Accelerating%20Student%20Learning%20With%20High-Impact%20Tutoring.pdf
Schwartz, S. (2023, February 27). Why connecting tutoring to curriculum could make it more effective. Education Week. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/why-connecting-tutoring-to-curriculum-could-make-it-more-effective/2023/02
White, S., Groom-Thomas, L., & Loeb, S. (2023). A systematic review of research on tutoring implementation: Considerations when undertaking complex instructional supports for students (EdWorkingPaper No. 22-652). Annenberg Institute at Brown University. https://doi.org/10.26300/wztf-wj14
Tutoring Quality Standards
High-quality tutoring programs align with key standards that support effective implementation and student success. Learn more about the research and application of the tutoring quality standards relevant to this section: