16 May Funding the Future: How Districts Can Tap Into Resources for Academic Support and Tutoring

Written by Christina Merchant | Edited by Cara Catalano

As schools face shifting priorities and tightening budgets, education leaders are being asked to do more with less—again. While ESSER funds brought a wave of temporary relief, their expiration has left many districts questioning how to maintain or expand the services that have proven most effective, such as high-impact tutoring (HIT) and academic interventions.

While procuring alternative funds requires investigative research and proactive measures, adequate funding is still available. The key lies in knowing where to look—and how to align initiatives to funding goals at the local, state, and federal level. With thoughtful planning and strategic positioning, districts can access sustainable resources that support their goals for student growth, recovery, and equity.

Start Local: Re-evaluate and Reallocate

Often, the first place to look for funding is within existing allocations. Many districts are already entitled to funds through Title I (supporting economically-disadvantaged students), Title III (language instruction for English learners), Title IV (student support and enrichment), and 21st Century Community Learning Centers (after-school and summer programming).

What often goes unused is the potential to braid or redirect these funds to support tutoring programs—especially those that serve multilingual learners, students with IEPs, or students identified as needing targeted intervention. A detailed needs assessment and a program that clearly tracks student growth and aligns to evidence-based practices can help justify the reallocation of funds already in the district’s control (US Department of Education 2021).

Think Community: Leverage Local Support Systems

Beyond state and federal dollars, many communities offer resources through local education foundations, regional non-profits, or workforce development agencies. For example, school-community partnerships may help fund tutoring through literacy or after-school enrichment initiatives, particularly in areas where student outcomes are tied to future workforce readiness.

Some cities and counties also offer micro-grants or philanthropic funds that can be applied toward after-school programming and targeted instruction. These opportunities, while not always widely advertised, can become crucially supportive when larger federal programs begin to shrink.

Schools that can show how academic interventions tie into long-term community benefits—higher graduation rates, increased literacy, or stronger family engagement—are more likely to gain traction with these local funding sources.

Position Your Program Strategically

As competition for dollars increases, successful proposals are the ones that connect the dots between needs, evidence, and outcomes. Tutoring programs, structured around high-dosage principles, use consistent data-collecting methods and include trained staff far more likely to qualify for remaining state grants and potential federal pilots (Robinson et al. 2021).

Districts should consider how their existing or proposed programs align with ESSA evidence tiers and address multiple subgroups of students. When tutoring is positioned as a tool for literacy recovery, math acceleration, or multilingual support, it becomes a smart investment—one that simultaneously supports multiple funding objectives.¹

Where to Find Education Funding Opportunities

If you’re looking for where to start, these trusted sources can help identify funding to support tutoring and academic recovery initiatives:

• Grants.gov: Browse through the federal government’s central hub for all competitive grant programs.
• US Department of Education – Grants & Funding: Explore federal grant programs like Title I, Title III, and 21st CCLC.
• State Department of Education Websites: Search your state’s DOE for tutoring grants, expanded learning opportunities, or supplemental funding.
• Edunomics Lab ESSER Tracker: Track how ESSER funds have been allocated and see remaining opportunities.
• Foundation Directory Online (Candid): Search for local and national philanthropic funding aligned to education.
  
• Community Resources: Local education foundations, United Way chapters, and regional workforce boards often offer targeted grants—especially when tutoring supports future workforce readiness.

A Final Word

The education funding landscape may be changing, but opportunities remain for those who seek them out. Academic recovery is still a top priority in many communities, and programs that show impact and sustainability will continue to earn support.

With the right strategy, the right alignment, and a little persistence, districts can continue to fund the programs that matter most for student growth—without compromising on quality or access.

Click the link here to schedule a call with our partnership team.

¹ For more information on ESSA evidence tiers and program alignment, visit the US Department of Education’s ESSA Resources or consult the What Works Clearinghouse for evidence-based program reviews.

References

• Robinson, C. D., Kraft, M. A., Loeb, S., & Schueler, B. E. (2021). Accelerating student learning with high-dosage tutoring. Brookings Institution. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2021/05/06/accelerating-student-learning-with-high-dosage-tutoring/

• US Department of Education. (2021). Strategies for using American Rescue Plan funding to address the impact of lost instructional time. https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/education-department-releases-guidance-help-schools-address-impact-covid-19