08 Jul Scaling High-Impact Tutoring Across Schools: Strategies for District-Wide Expansion

Written by Christina Merchant | Edited by Cara Catalano

Scaling High-Impact Tutoring Across Schools: Strategies for District-Wide Expansion

Districts can unlock greater achievement by expanding small-group, high-impact tutoring across multiple school sites—if they plan with purpose.

High-impact tutoring (HIT) has emerged as one of the most effective interventions for accelerating student learning, particularly when delivered consistently, in small groups, and integrated into the school day. While single-school pilot programs often show promising results, district leaders are increasingly faced with a bigger challenge: How do we scale these successes across multiple schools, without sacrificing quality, consistency, or impact?

Scaling high-impact tutoring is not just a logistical challenge—it’s a strategic one. Successful district-wide expansion requires a clear vision, intentional design, and careful coordination between central offices, school leaders, and tutoring partners. Below are key strategies to help districts scale high-impact tutoring in ways that are sustainable, effective, and accessible to all learners.

1. Start with a Shared Vision for Impact

Before expanding tutoring to additional schools, districts must clearly define why they are scaling. Is the goal to accelerate reading growth for early elementary students? Is it to close learning gaps in math for middle schoolers? Or, is it to support multilingual learners with language development?

A shared vision:

• Aligns tutoring goals with district priorities (e.g., literacy recovery, college readiness)
• Ensures buy-in from school leaders and site-based staff
• Keeps the focus on outcomes, not just logistics

When stakeholders grasp the why, they’re more committed to the how.

2. Use Data to Identify Where to Start

Scaling doesn’t mean implementing tutoring across the board at once. Instead, identify high-priority sites based on student need and readiness:

• Schools with large percentages of students performing below grade level
• Sites with leadership teams eager to integrate tutoring
• Existing gaps in instructional time, such as large class sizes or limited intervention resources
• Focusing on key grade levels, like K-2 for foundational literacy or grades 6-8 for critical math development
• Early wins at pilot schools, which create models for others to adopt

3. Standardize Core Components Without Losing Flexibility

Balance consistency with each school’s unique context by designing a scalable tutoring framework:

Non-negotiables:

• Group size (e.g., 3–5 students per tutor)
• Frequency (3–5 sessions per week)
• Session length (30–45 minutes)
• Use of high-quality instructional materials

Adaptable Elements:

• Scheduling (push-in vs. pull-out)
• Physical space (e.g., library, classroom corner)
• Integration with MTSS or other systems

4. Invest in Tutor Quality and Training

The strength of any tutoring program lies in its tutors. Whether staff, paraprofessionals, or external partners, training should cover:

• Small-group instructional strategies
• Scaffolding and differentiation
• Relationship-building
• Data-driven progress monitoring
• Cultural responsiveness and inclusivity

Integrate ongoing feedback and professional development to sustain quality.

5. Create a Scalable Data Infrastructure

District-wide tutoring requires a data system that is:

• Shared and user-friendly
• Focused on instructional progress
• Supports decision-making at both the district and school levels

Include baseline assessments, progress monitoring tools, and dashboards. But, keep the data efficient. Effective systems should empower action, not overwhelm educators.

6. Build School-Level Ownership

District leadership matters, but success happens at the school level. Empower principals, curriculum experts, and instructional leaders by:

• Providing clear guides and timelines
• Assigning site-level implementation leads
• Fostering cross-school learning
• Recognizing and celebrating impact

Tutoring should be integrated into each school’s academic ecosystem.

7. Anticipate Scaling Challenges—and Plan for Them

Common pitfalls include:

• Tutor shortages or turnover
• Scheduling conflicts during the school day
• Uneven data results or feedback cycles
• Varying levels of accessibility across sites

Plan ahead: Create staffing contingencies, offer scheduling templates, conduct regular data walkthroughs, and allocate outreach support where it’s most needed.

8. Make It Accessible to All Student Needs

Expand tutoring access intentionally for students who will benefit most:

• Schools with higher populations performing below grade level
• Multilingual learners and students with disabilities
• Students whose families have limited access to outside support

Tutoring programs are strongest when they’re woven into students’ everyday learning experiences.

Final Thoughts

Scaling high-impact tutoring across multiple schools is both feasible and essential. As districts face staffing hurdles and persistent achievement gaps, high-frequency, small-group tutoring offers a powerful solution.

But, scaling requires more than duplication—it requires alignment, planning, and intentional design to ensure tutoring is sustainable, accessible, and impactful for every student.

Schedule a call with our partnership team.

Research Highlights

The effectiveness of high-impact tutoring isn’t just anecdotal—it’s backed by rigorous research. Studies from leading education institutes have shown that well-designed, consistent, small-group tutoring can significantly accelerate learning outcomes and support a wide range of student needs. Below are two key findings that underscore why scaling district-wide tutoring is a smart, evidence-based investment:

Brown/Annenberg (2021): A meta-analysis found high-impact tutoring—characterized by frequent, small-group or one-on-one sessions—can accelerate learning by an additional 3–15 months when implemented effectively EdResearch for Recovery_School Practices to Address Student Learning Loss

NSSA (Stanford) (2021): High-impact tutoring offers strong evidence of effectiveness across diverse student groups when built on clear design elements (such as consistent tutors, small groups, embedded scheduling, and rigorous use of data). Best Practices for States Supporting High-Impact Tutoring

Works Cited

Annenberg Institute at Brown University. (2021, March). Accelerating student learning with high-dosage tutoring. EdResearch for Recovery Project. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://annenberg.brown.edu/sites/default/files/EdResearch_for_Recovery_Brief_1.pdf 

Lastinger Center for Learning. (2023, January). Best practices for states supporting high-impact tutoring. University of Florida. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from Best Practices for States Supporting High-Impact Tutoring