The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary
Education (DESE) is launching the High-Impact Tutoring Grant Pilot Program to
all districts and charter schools. As established by the LEARNS Act, this pilot
program will provide grants to districts and charter schools to cover major
costs associated with delivering high-impact tutoring services during school
for eligible students in grades K-12 for ELA and/or math during the 2023-2024
school year. Participating districts are expected to leverage grant funding to
provide support and resources for tutoring and submit tutoring data to DESE.
Applications are available here and are
due by January 19, 2024.
High-Impact Tutoring
Research shows that high-impact tutoring is one of the most
effective interventions to accelerate student learning. Tutoring programs are
generally considered high-impact when they are:
- Data-driven
with student results, characteristics, and progress guiding
decision-making;
- Provided in
small groups (i.e., four or fewer);
- Provided for
a minimum of three times per week, at least 30 minutes a session, or a
comparable model that provides direct tutoring based on specific skills
needed;
- Provided by
a consistent tutor or limited, consistent set of tutors that sustain
strong relationships with students;
- Implemented
during the school day, rather than as a before or after school program;
and
- Supplemental
to core academic instruction and not a replacement for such instruction.
Supplemental instruction may include small group instructional time where
students might otherwise be working independently.
Interested districts should consider how they can implement
each of these components of high-impact tutoring into their program design.
Districts and open-enrollment public charter schools are encouraged to partner
with an approved tutoring provider to help design, deliver, and monitor
tutoring services. The list of approved providers for the high-impact tutoring
pilot program is available here.
Districts and open-enrollment public charter schools with
existing tutoring programs are encouraged to apply. However, an existing
high-impact tutoring program is not required to receive funding for this pilot
program.
Program Requirements
Eligible students should be identified by the district
based on their state assessment scores, interim assessments scores, or
classroom performance. Districts may use funds for:
- Contracting
for products and services related to high-impact tutoring from the approved provider list;
- Hiring or
contracting for tutors or providing stipends or other incentives to
paraprofessionals, retired teachers, community organizations to ensure
maximum tutoring capacity;
- Administrative
expenses, including as needed additional staff to support high-impact
tutoring implementation;
- Costs
associated with technology-enabled tutoring solutions and devices.
Additionally, selected participants will receive technical
support and additional guidance from DESE. Participating districts may be
required to attend awardee webinars and check-ins with DESE staff.
Participating districts will be required to submit tutoring data including the
number of students eligible and served, student attendance and dosage, and
student growth to the state. DESE will provide a template, guidance, and
support on submitting data. Selected districts and open-enrollment public
charter schools are expected to deliver high-impact tutoring to eligible
students during the 2023-24 school year.
District Application Process
DESE will hold an informational webinar on the program and
application process on January 4th at 1:00 pm.
Districts interested in applying should submit a completed application to ade.tutoring@ade.arkansas.gov by January 19, 2024. DESE will notify districts
of their award status by January 26, 2024.
Participating districts and open-enrollment public charter schools should plan
to launch their high-impact tutoring program no later than in February.
Please contact ade.tutoring@ade.arkansas.gov with
questions about the application or program requirements.