Summary
As federal pandemic relief funds expire, many districts are reassessing their investments in high-dosage tutoring — one of the few interventions proven to close academic gaps, especially for underserved students. This post urges education leaders to double down on tutoring, not pull back. Drawing on insights from a recent The 74 article and Tutored by Teachers’ own work in districts like Pitt County, NC, the blog highlights the challenges and solutions of scaling tutoring with quality and equity. It offers three actionable strategies for embedding tutoring into long-term instructional plans and calls for sustained investment in this critical support.
High-Dosage Tutoring Works for Students. Let’s Invest In It.
Five years after the pandemic disrupted nearly every aspect of schooling, one thing has become clear: high-dosage tutoring works. It’s one of the few interventions with robust, repeated evidence of success — especially for students who’ve historically been underserved.
And yet, despite its effectiveness, we’re at risk of losing it.
As federal relief funds wind down, many districts are re-evaluating what’s “sustainable.” But the more urgent question isn’t whether to keep tutoring — it’s how to make it work for the long term.
In a recent article from The 74, Kevin Huffman and Sadie Jefferson make a compelling case for doubling down on high-dosage tutoring. We were proud to see programs like ours recognized among those at the forefront of helping students reach new heights.
Quality at Scale: A Real Challenge, But Not an Impossible One
Delivering high-dosage tutoring at scale is hard. We’ve seen it firsthand. It takes more than hiring a few tutors or offering optional sessions after school. It requires a real commitment to quality, instructional alignment, and equitable access — no matter where a student lives or what language they speak.
That’s why at Tutored by Teachers, we’ve focused on building sustainable, targeted partnerships. In Pitt County, North Carolina, for example, we support multilingual learners in rural schools through virtual tutoring delivered in their native languages — including American Sign Language.
It’s not just about access. It’s about belonging.
This work isn’t easy. But it’s necessary. And it’s working.
3 Moves for Districts Ready to Make Tutoring Stick
If you’re a school or district leader trying to figure out what’s next, here are three steps you can take right now to keep the momentum going:
🕐 Integrate tutoring into the school day. Pull-outs during electives, dedicated tutoring blocks, or co-taught sessions allow tutoring to reinforce core instruction — rather than compete with it.
🤝 Choose partners that match your instructional values. The most effective tutoring providers don’t operate in silos. They align with classroom goals, communicate with teachers, and train their tutors with intention.
🌍 Make equity the foundation, not an afterthought. Look for solutions that serve rural communities, support multilingual learners, and reflect the diversity of your student body. Tutoring should never widen the gap — it should close it.
A Future Worth Investing In
As Huffman and Jefferson put it, “This moment demands urgency.” Tutoring isn’t just a student intervention — it’s a national investment in educational equity and opportunity.
We agree. At Tutored by Teachers, we’re doubling down. Because we believe in what tutoring can do — and in what every student deserves.
Let’s not let this opportunity slip away.
Want to see how Tutored by Teachers can help you build a sustainable, equity-focused program that drives real results — for every student, in every classroom? Let’s Chat!