Key points:
Although most online tutoring solutions claim to provide high-impact tutoring, less than one-third follow the design principles for identifying high-impact tutoring, according to a new report analyzing the effectiveness and credibility of online tutoring programs.
Noting the upcoming post-pandemic funding cliff, researchers sought to understand if these edtech companies were adhering to high-impact tutoring design principles that many districts seek to instill confidence in programmatic success and meet funding criteria.
The report from LearnPlatform by Instructure notes that 71 percent of high-impact tutoring tools purport to offer high-impact tutoring, but they fall short.
Following the pandemic, many states turned to additional programmatic support, such as online tutoring, to fill learning gaps. Currently, 40 states provide funding for tutoring programs, 26 of which require programs to be aligned with high-impact standards, such as the four tiers of evidence provided by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Aligning solutions with ESSA requirements enables companies to differentiate their solutions and demonstrate positive impact to school districts and educational agencies that prioritize evidence-based interventions.
“Higher validation is shown to move the needle on student learning, and it is our collective responsibility to continue to improve student learning outcomes,” explained Melissa Loble, chief academic officer at Instructure. “With budget cuts and teacher shortages, edtech companies are filling the gaps in our schools that continue to grow wider every day–but only if there is evidence backing their success.”
Researchers learned that for 41 percent of the tutoring solutions reviewed, they were unable to find publicly available information on whether these companies adhered to high-impact tutoring design principles. From the information they could uncover, they found the majority of the available research on online tutoring solutions (62 percent) did not meet any ESSA criteria. Just 30 percent of online tutoring solutions had evidence that fulfilled the requirements for an ESSA Level III study or better. Online tutoring solutions that met ESSA Level I or II standards were more effective than solutions that met ESSA Level III standards. Meeting ESSA III and IV standards were still better than no evidence, making higher validated solutions far more desirable to education institutions.
“Strong research validation not only gives institutions the confidence that our programs can effectively support student learning, but we also have outside affirmation that our product truly does make an impact,” added Anthony Salcito, chief institutional business officer at Varsity Tutors, an Instructure partner.
Leveraging research to demonstrate learning impacts across various student groups can unlock additional funding opportunities for edtech solutions. Demonstrating impact to align with funding requirements will not only attract education institutions with limited budgets but also helps companies position their solutions as top choices in the market. Furthermore, comprehensive research studies enable companies to gain valuable insights into emerging trends and opportunities, positioning them as trusted partners within the education ecosystem.
“By engaging in strategic planning and building partnerships, edtech leaders can confidently navigate the funding landscape, driving innovation and impact in education. The right edtech solution can significantly impact teaching and learning, but collaboration is essential for driving meaningful change in education,” added Loble. “Forming strategic partnerships with industry leaders can boost the credibility and effectiveness of online tutoring solutions, thereby increasing funding opportunities.”
Researchers conducted a systematic search for available evidence using various methods. They explored studies on online tutoring solutions by examining the websites of leading online tutoring providers, performing keyword searches on the ERIC database and Google Scholar, reviewing all studies on ProvenTutoring.com (the Evidence for ESSA tutoring clearinghouse), analyzing the What Works Clearinghouse website, and assessing studies conducted by LearnPlatform by Instructure. The final analytical sample comprised 64 studies and 82 effect sizes across 34 online tutoring solutions, encompassing a total of 68,672 students in the meta-analysis.
This press release originally appeared online.
