Use these ten multiple-choice questions to design your tutoring program’s Model Dimensions. Model Dimensions are the specific design choices a new tutoring program makes at the outset. Each choice you make should have a clear rationale supported by your Landscape Analysis and be made in consultation with your local community, school/district partner(s) and the internal program team.
- How are you targeting your tutoring, and what is your articulation for why tutoring is needed?
- Specific students are falling behind academically and need individual support, so we will help them.
- Specific moments in the curriculum are make-or-break for students’ academic success, so we will help them.
- All students can benefit from tutoring, whether they are making up for learning loss or accelerating their learning.
- Which content areas will your tutoring program address?
- Literacy
- Math
- Literacy AND Math
- Other:
- Which grade levels will your tutoring program serve?
- Grade 1 & Below
- Grades 2-5 (Elementary)
- Grades 6-12 (Secondary)
- Other:
- Where and when will tutoring sessions happen?
- In school, during the normal school day
- In a school building, but before or after the school day
- Outside of school, before or after school or on weekends
- Outside of school, during summer break
- Other:
Note: The most effective programs hold tutoring sessions during the school day to increase attendance.
- Who will decide which students receive tutoring?
- OST program staff will decide which students attend
- All students enrolled in the OST program will attend
- Teachers will recommend or require their students to attend
- Parents and families will sign their children up
- Students themselves will voluntarily sign up
- Other:
- Who will your tutors be?
- Current OST Staff
- Newly Hired OST Staff
- Teachers
- Paraprofessionals
- Volunteers
- College Students
- Students’ Families
- Peers & Near-Peers
- Other: _________________________________
- Where will tutoring take place?
- In person
- Online/virtually
- Bit of both (blended)
- Other:
- How often will tutoring sessions happen?
- Once or twice per week
- Three to five times per week
- Variable (student, school or family choice)
- Other:
Note: Effective programs provide 3 or more tutoring sessions per week.
- How many students will each tutor work with at a time?
- One student per tutor
- Two to four students per tutor (small groups)
- Other:
Note:Effective programs use a 4:1 or less ratio.
- Will each student consistently work with the same tutor across multiple sessions?
- Yes, tutor-student pairings will be consistent
- No, tutor-student pairings will be inconsistent
Note: Effective programs use a consistent tutor-student pairing.