School is back in session. In California, we ended the prior school year with promising data that student attendance rates throughout the state are rising from historic lows during the pandemic. While having students in seats is cause for celebration, we must ensure that we have enough teachers in classrooms.
California has a long way to go. We rank 47th in the country for student-teacher ratio . Our elected officials are making investments in school staffing , yet there are further measures we should be taking to make sure students receive the quality education they deserve. And there’s no time to waste.
The initiative we should be champing at the bit to implement is high-impact tutoring : tutoring in one-on-one situations or very small groups meeting at least 30 minutes, three or more times a week. Here’s why this is an effective, scalable way to provide students with high-quality educators:
You can’t argue with data . Research shows that high-dosage tutoring is one of the most effective ways to help students make academic progress. Yet few students actually receive it . A recent study from Stanford University demonstrated the many positive effects of tutoring, including increased reading and math scores, attendance and a feeling of belonging. Teach For America’s (TFA) tutoring program, the Ignite Fellowship , finds and develops tutors who connect virtually with students during the school day. Fellows, who are paid for their work, are supported by a school-based veteran educator to customize instruction. Seventy-one percent of the 3,500 students across the country being tutored by Ignite fellows meet their semester-long reading and math goals.