Tutoring

Rhode Island's tutoring strategy

To understand the impacts of COVID on student learning, RIDE convened a task force of educational experts, practitioners, families, students, and community members across the state in February 2021. This task force identified high-impact tutoring as a prioritized strategy for accelerating student learning. RIDE encourages districts to use their federal stimulus dollars to expand high-quality tutoring opportunities for students.

RIDE is prioritizing tutoring in mathematics in all grades and early literacy. However, tutoring in all grade levels and subject areas is encouraged.

RIDE Supports for Tutoring

Technical Assistance for Districts

RIDE has partnered with Amplify Education to provide workshops, communities of practices, and coaching supports to districts hoping to set up tutoring programs. All of these services are free for districts.

Learn more about technical assistance: Technical Assistance & Workshops for Districts

RIDE-Approved Tutoring Providers for Districts

RIDE has established a list of vetted tutor providers for use by school districts. These vendors have been approved by RIDE for tutor recruitment, training, and/or instructional materials. All of them have a statewide master price agreement which districts can use to expedite purchasing.

Guide to RIDE - Approved Tutoring Vendors [PDF, updated December 2023]

For any questions, please email tutoring@ride.ri.gov.

What is high-impact tutoring?

High-impact tutoring (also called “high-dosage tutoring”) leads to substantial learning gains for students, provided that the program is implemented with fidelity, according to research-based best practices. The Annenberg Institute at Brown University outlined the key features for high-impact tutoring in a EdResearch for Recovery brief:

  • Well-trained, consistent tutor (can be a current or retired teacher, paraprofessional, teacher candidate, college student, or community volunteer) who builds a strong relationship with students
  • High-quality instructional materials, aligned to standards and core classwork
  • One-to-one or small group for individualized support (between one and three students per tutor is recommended)
  • Embedded in the school day, or immediately before or after, to maximize student access
  • Data-driven, utilizing aligned formative assessments, with tutors building sessions around student strengths and needs, and adjusting the approach based on data over time

When tutoring programs do not have these features, they may lead to negligible improvements in student learning. Therefore, RIDE is prioritizing tutoring programs that meet research-based best practices, such as the ones outlined above.

RIDE and Amplify Education have partnered to provide technical assistance to local education agencies (LEAs) hoping to build high-impact tutoring programs. This includes ad hoc coaching and technical assistance, as well as a more formal workshop and consultancy series. All of these services are free for districts.

COACHING AND SUPPORT

Amplify’s team of tutoring experts are on hand to support districts with any questions related to setting up tutoring programs.

For assistance, email tutoring@ride.ri.gov.

For questions related to RIDE's policies/support, please email tutoring@ride.ri.gov.

WORKSHOP & CONSULTANCY SERIES

RIDE and Amplify Education have designed a six-week workshop and consultancy series to help district leaders set up tutoring programs.

Download Slide Deck - explaining the workshop series [PDF, 2.7 MB]

If you are interested in participating in any of these workshops, please email tutoring@ride.ri.gov.

Materials for participants are available on the RIDE High Impact Tutoring Implementation Workshop & Consultancy Series website.

RIDE has established a list of vetted tutor providers for use by school districts. All of these vendors have been vetted by RIDE, and have established a statewide contract (called a "master price agreement" or MPA) that LEAs may choose to join to expedite the purchasing process. Tutoring vendors were vetted for three services: recruitment of tutors, training of tutors, and instructional materials and platforms for tutoring.

Guide to RIDE - Approved tutoring vendors [PDF, 566 KB]

LEAs will manage their own tutoring programs, make their own decisions about which providers to use for which services, and will fund their own tutoring programs. While LEAs run their own tutoring programs, this menu may help LEAs select vendors and streamline the procurement process. Districts and vendors can work directly with each other. Districts are not required to use a vendor from this list.

For questions about a particular vendor, contact the vendor contact in the guide above. For questions about RIDE’s vetting process, email tutoring@ride.ri.gov.

INFORMATION FOR VENDORS

Vendors interested in applying for the RFP can apply for on the RI Division of Purchasing website. See solicitation # OET22000940 on the RI Bid Board. The RFP will reopen and accept new proposals on a revolving basis

Questions related to procurement processes, or the RFP should be directed to Cheryl McGurn, Division of Purchasing: cheryl.mcgurn@purchasing.ri.gov.

Schoolhouse.world is a platform for free virtual tutoring for students. Founded by Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, Schoolhouse.world allows students to receive live help, build their skills, and pay it forward by becoming a tutor themselves. Tutoring focuses on math, SAT prep, and AP review.

RIDE and Schoolhouse.world have a statewide partnership, which allows students to pre-register for Schoolhouse.world via the All Course Network on EnrollRI.org. For more information, you can read our press release or watch a video from Sal Khan about this partnership.

Register and learn more:

All Course Network on EnrollRI.org or the Schoolhouse.world website.

If you are a parent/family member interested in finding tutoring opportunities for your student, please contact your child’s school/district to learn more about the available supports.

You may also be interested in enrolling your student in free Schoolhouse.world (see above). You can register via RI’s All Course Network on EnrollRI.org or the Schoolhouse.world website. You can also watch a video message from Sal Khan, the founder of Schoolhouse.world and Khan Academy.

If you are interested in volunteering to tutor in your local school, please contact that school directly.