Reading

Tutor Selection Strategy

Your candidate pool should reflect the backgrounds of the students being served. Also, when developing selection criteria, consider how advanced you need tutors to be when it comes to understanding systemic oppression and being anti-racist. Some programs look for an openness to learning and an acknowledgement of intrinsic bias as this sets the foundation for future training.

Tutor Recruitment Strategy

Why build an intentional recruitment plan?

The more applicants your program can recruit, the more selective you can be when choosing tutors. If your program cannot recruit enough qualified tutors, it must either serve fewer students or provide each student with less support. Poor recruitment can make it harder for your program to serve its mission, starting a downward spiral of lower impact, less funding, and fewer high-quality tutors.

Tutor Job Description Guidance

Why create a tutor job description?

If your program plans to recruit tutors from outside the community, you will need a job description to post online or otherwise circulate. If your program plans to rely on teachers at partner schools, students’ families, or peer tutors, you should still create a job description internally for selection purposes. The checklist and the examples below will help you make sure your job description gets read, attracts applicants, and targets the specific kind of candidates you think would make ideal tutors in your program.

Training & Support

Implementation Checklist

  • Delineate training content based on Model Dimensions and selection criteria for tutors
  • Establish a clear structure for pre-service and in-service training, including frequency, format, facilitator, etc.
  • Ensure inservice training is responsive to performance evaluations, stakeholder feedback, and student performance data
  • Collect feedback from tutors on trainings and incorporate insights and lessons from feedback to improve training effectivene

Screening & Expectations

Implementation Checklist

  • Outline and implement all pre-entry legal requirements based on district, state, and institutional regulations
  • Outline a clear support and management structure for tutors, including who will observe and evaluate tutors
  • Clearly delineate and communicate all expectations, policies, and procedures to tutors prior to the start of tutoring
  • Articulate a performance evaluation process to ensure tutors meet performance expectations

Recruitment and Selection

Implementation Checklist

  • Delineate clear responsibilities for tutors based on your Value Proposition and Model Design
  • Articulate the knowledge, skills, and mindsets necessary for tutors to be effective and successful in their role
  • Distinguish between what you will select for and what you will train for and have a clear rationale for your choice
  • Establish clear eligibility criteria based on your value proposition and model design
  • Design an application process to evaluate eligibility criteria and en

Tutor/Program-Family Communication: Crafting an Introductory Statement for Families

Why should you send an introductory statement home to families?

When families know what to expect from a program (and what it expects of them), they are more likely to trust it. When families trust your program, they are more likely to encourage and support their students to meet its expectations and goals. To build trust, you must make a good first impression. Communicate your program’s purpose, design, and logistics in writing, so that both parties can refer back to expectations throughout the duration of the program.