New research from Stanford University has brought a ray of hope for Washington, D.C.’s students, especially Black children and those from low-income families. The research revealed that the city’s substantial investment in a tutoring initiative has borne fruit in its first year, significantly boosting academic performance and narrowing the persistent gaps in reading and math that have disproportionately affected these groups.
The COVID-19 pandemic’s devastating effects on education motivated the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s (OSSE) launch of the high-impact tutoring program. Targeting students in Wards 5, 7 and 8 — areas historically underserved by private tutoring services — the program aims to bridge the achievement gaps that have persisted for years.
The numbers are telling. During the 2022-2023 school year, over 5,100 students from 141 traditional public and charter schools participated in the program, with the focus squarely on those who have struggled the most. By the end of the year, students who received more than 20 tutoring sessions were performing at levels much closer to their peers who were not part of the program. Officials said the progress marks a critical step toward leveling the educational playing field.