NJ program addressing pandemic-era learning loss is working, report shows

🏫 High-impact tutoring method

🏫 Three-tiered system in place

🏫 Found in multiple counties

The New Jersey Tutoring Corps' high-impact tutoring method is a corrective measure for grades K-8, created in response to academic gaps from the pandemic.

It's in its second full year, and a 2023-24 school year independent "Efficacy Report" finds the approach is creating change for the students — referred to as scholars. Ellen Sherratt, a prominent national researcher, led this year's evaluation.

"I was happily surprised that our data was as positive as it was. We worked with 226 tutors, 57 site coordinators and instructional coaches. So we have a three-tiered system on site," Chief Executive Officer Katherine Bassett said to New Jersey 101.5.

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The data found 4% of scholars were grade-level proficient in math at the beginning of the last school year, which rose to 26% after instruction; literacy proficiency saw a jump from 12% to 30% within the same period.

"Think about that. That's huge. And then those scholars that are two to three grade levels behind making such significant progress, and then also telling us that they enjoy the program, they are more confident, they would be willing to help their peers," Bassett said.

The New Jersey Tutoring Corps would like to see this upward trend continue, with a goal to have 10,000 K-5 scholars proficient in literacy and math by 2025, according to its website.

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Tutoring approach

Participating schools use a high-impact tutoring method in very small groups, ideally looking at what the scholars already know and building from that foundation. Scholars typically receive help two to three times a week, ranging from 30 to 60 minutes each session.

Funding

Federal budget cuts and state budget cuts led to a smaller program this year, according to Bassett. Last year, the program was in 19 of our 21 counties.

Still, for this current year, they received $1.1 million as part of the governor's budget. Last year, the program received $1.5 million.

"This was a really tight budget year. Some programs and organizations didn't receive anything," Bassett said.

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