The Illinois Tutoring Initiative (ITI) has provided high-impact tutoring for students in over 125 schools in districts impacted by the pandemic since 2021. In response to COVID-19’s impact on student learning, the Biden-Harris administration made an unprecedented Federal investment in K-12 schools, representing $122 billion of the $190 billion allocated across three COVID relief packages. This funding, part of the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund, allows states to spend on academic recovery, health and safety, and mental health and wellbeing across their schools and districts.
The ITI exemplifies the power of collaborative partnerships among state agencies, higher education institutions, and K-12 priority school districts in their collective mission to support student learning in reading and math. This comprehensive effort spans grade 3-8, extending support to high school math tutoring as well. The ITI is focused on improving student outcomes in math and reading, and there is data showing assessment scores have jumped in Illinois considerably relative to other states in 2022.
Early research indicates that this approach is working in partnership with institutions of higher education across the state, including Governors State University; Northern Illinois University, Illinois Central College, Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and Southeastern Illinois College. These institutions hire, train, and oversee tutors in their region. Illinois State University also provides overall project management for the initiative, including tutor training and development, tutor matching and scheduling, data collection, and research.
All states experienced learning loss among students, however, not all states chose to implement some form of tutoring, which is why states throughout the country are being compared by their changes in test scores rather than whether or not they had tutoring. Of those states that offered tutoring, intervention with high fidelity was not examined because states conducted tutoring differently. As quoted in the brief, “one example of a state that has undertaken high-fidelity efforts after the pandemic is Illinois.”
A focus on relationships and connection to the local curriculum are key features of high-impact tutoring. The approach offers adults the time and resources to understand students, consider their needs, and provide the support for them to truly succeed in school and beyond. Pairing students with a tutor who connects with them socially and emotionally can significantly benefit student development and learning and deepen relationships. With high-impact tutoring, the ITI has matched tutors with students for high-dosage tutoring up to three times a week for 45 minutes to one hour. This type of matching between tutor and student helps to build more confident learners.
The Biden-Harris administration has invested heavily in U.S. public education, which has sparked creative initiatives nationwide. The work here is not done and significant opportunities remain. The ITI has played a significant role in delivering high-quality, high-dosage tutoring in these recovery efforts, suggesting this type of strategy is worth replicating elsewhere.
The full article from the White House brief is available online.
