2.1 Designing a Program

Intentionally designed high-impact tutoring programs deliver stronger, more equitable learning outcomes for students while aligning seamlessly with broader student goals. A strong foundation built on community needs with a clearly defined logic model can result in more strategic decision-making as implementation begins. Section 2.1 covers how to conduct community needs assessments, develop logic models, and design program models aligned to research-based best practices.

Needs Assessment
Key RecommendationsCorresponding Resources
  • Conduct a needs assessment to identify the community's strengths, challenges, and available resources.

Reflection Guide: Conducting a Needs Assessment

Website: Developing a Plan for Assessing Local Needs and Resources

Logic Model Development
Key RecommendationsCorresponding Resources
  • Clarify your program’s goals and create a roadmap for achieving impact by developing a logic model that connects resources, actions, outputs, and long-term outcomes. Use a Logic Model to structure and communicate your program’s theory of change.

Reading: Logic Model Guidance

Template & Example: Logic Model (Word Document Available)

Program Model Design
Key RecommendationsCorresponding Resources
  • Determine key tutoring model elements, including tutor type, instruction, scheduling, and student-tutor ratio. 

Reflection Guide: Making Tutoring Model Decisions 

Reading: The seven elements of high-impact tutoring

  • Prioritize a shared opportunity by ensuring high-impact tutoring reaches the students who need it most.

One-Pager: High-Impact Tutoring: The Basics, Benefits, and Research

Reading: Student Population Prioritization Decision-Making Matrix

Reflection Guide: Selecting Students

Tutoring Quality Standards and Self-Assessment Indicators
Take the free, 15-minute, and research-based Tutoring Organization Self-Assessment. This subsection addresses these tutoring quality standards and Self-Assessment indicators.
Cohesion
Program Design		The program is designed to successfully meet the needs of the community it serves.
6a.1 | A thorough analysis of the strengths, resources, and needs of your community/district
6a.2 | An understanding of the inputs and actions required for your program to produce its desired results
6a.3 | A well-defined program model with intentional and consistent choices across various dimensions (Model Dimensions)