Should your OST Program Provide High-Impact Tutoring?
The purpose of this resource is to help organizations determine whether to include high-impact tutoring as a part of their OST programming. This guidance is based on feedback from OST providers providing high-impact tutoring as part of their academic programming in their local communities.
| OST Academic Programming | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Academic Enrichment | Academic Support | Academic Growth |
| Program Type | Part of Multipurpose and Academic Programs | Part of Multipurpose Programs | Part of Academic Programs |
| Examples | Field Trips, STEM, Performing Arts, Entrepreneurship, Service Learning | Homework Help | High-Impact Tutoring |
| Characteristics | Students work with an instructor with specific content expertise. Instructors develop fundamental skills in a particular area. | Students work independently and must request support, group size often depends on how many students opt-in on a given day, supervisor may be different each day as long as they can answer student questions. | Group size of three students or less working with a consistent and trained tutor multiple times per week, using student data to inform instruction. |
| Goal | Provide students with new experiences, opportunities, and skill development in the content area of focus. | Complete homework assigned during school. | Accelerate learning in a specific content area (usually math or literacy). |
| Implementation Complexity | Depends on Program | Lower | Higher |
Overview: What does it mean to offer high-impact tutoring in your OST program?
Most out-of-school time providers offer a variety of academic supports to enrich and expand student learning opportunities outside of the school day. High-impact tutoring is one type of academic support that OST providers may choose to offer that aims to achieve a specific goal and has specific characteristics as outlined below:
What is High-Impact Tutoring?
Tutoring is a form of teaching, one-on-one or in a small group, towards a specific goal. High-impact tutoring leads to substantial learning gains for students by supplementing (but not replacing) students’ classroom experiences. High-impact tutoring responds to individual needs and complements students’ existing curriculum.
The key elements of high-impact tutoring are:
- Tutor: Students work with a consistent tutor who is supported by ongoing oversight and coaching.
- Instruction: Tutoring sessions include a minimum of three sessions per week in small groups. Materials are high quality and aligned with state standards.
- Learning Integration: High-impact tutoring is embedded in schools either during the school day or immediately before or after the school day.
- Data Use: Student data informs tutoring sessions to ensure student academic needs are met.
- Equity, Safety, Cohesion: High-Impact tutoring programs are grounded in equity, ensure safety of students and program elements and leadership work together creating a cohesive well-run program.
Should you offer high-impact tutoring in your OST programming?
Use the following flowchart to assess whether your OST programming should offer high-impact tutoring:
