When many of us think of “tutoring”, we picture the “homework help” model, where a student brings assignments for a tutor to coach them through. However, this type of model is not what every student needs to deeply learn new concepts. In fact, an effective tutoring program often looks very different.

Effective tutoring programs involve regular small-group instruction, consistent use of high-quality instructional materials and formative assessments, and committed tutors who receive frequent coaching and support. They are also about so much more than just learning impacts. The tutoring environment should help students feel safe about taking intellectual risks, confident in their math identity, and supported by caring adults and peers who affirm their abilities. Programs should also be accessible and equitable, and thus implemented in close partnership with districts and schools.

That’s what we learned when we asked students who are Black, Latino, and/or experiencing poverty and their families, teachers, and principals, what mattered to them in a math tutoring program. Their stories and insights – combined with provider interviews and a review of tutoring’s extensive evidence base – form the foundation of a Target Program Profile, or TPP, for math tutoring. This TPP is a working hypothesis, informed by research and stakeholders, about what makes an effective math tutoring program.

When our K-12 Education team first learned about TPPs, it was in the context of work that our global health colleagues were leading to define minimum and ideal conditions for vaccine delivery based on the needs of recipients. Despite the vastly different context, we were intrigued by the power shift that TPPs enable; by having those closest to the program tell providers what they’re looking for, it centers their needs in the innovation process. In many cases, this requires tutoring organizations to think differently about how they operate and who they serve.

Read the full article about math tutoring at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.