Key Takeaways:

• Boston’s Untapped Potential: While the city birthed the high-impact tutoring movement through Match Charter School’s pioneering work, Boston Public Schools currently provides this transformative intervention to only 350 of its 50,000 students, despite having all the necessary ingredients – educational expertise, proven models, and funding pathways – to implement a successful district-wide program that would require less than 2% of its $1.5 billion budget.
• Proven Results That Matter: The evidence supporting high-impact tutoring is overwhelming, with studies showing students can double or triple their learning progress, and preliminary data demonstrating gains equivalent to two-thirds of a year of learning – enough to offset pandemic-related learning loss. 
• A Scalable, Comprehensive Solution: High-impact tutoring offers a systematic approach to educational improvement through consistent, small-group sessions with a 3:1 student-to-tutor ratio, supported by multiple funding pathways including federal work-study and AmeriCorps funding, with proven success at scale as demonstrated by Chicago’s successful implementation across 229 schools with 600 tutors.

After the pandemic, teachers nationwide are looking for ways to fix learning gaps. At Saga Education, we believe that high-impact tutoring is a tested method that can greatly improve student results. The Boston Globe writes how Boston Public Schools has not fully used a successful educational method that could greatly help its students. Even after experiencing major learning losses due to the pandemic, only 350 out of 50,000 students are benefiting from this effective approach.

The Evidence is Clear

Boston, known as the capital of higher education, is at an important point for public education. Even though it is where the high-dosage tutoring movement started, the city has not completely adopted what experts describe as “the most promising public education intervention in America.”

Many studies show the amazing benefits of high-dosage tutoring. Researchers discovered that when done well, this method can significantly improve students’ academic performance, sometimes even doubling or tripling their learning progress.

Boston’s Unique Position

Boston is not just another city; it is where the high-impact tutoring movement began. Match Charter School led the way with this method, transforming a struggling group of students into one of the top-performing in Massachusetts. By 2005, 69% of the school’s sophomores were testing “advanced” in math, ranking fourth in the state.

Beyond Academic Gains

High-impact tutoring goes beyond improving test scores. It builds strong relationships between students and their mentors. In our programs, students value the support from adults who care about their education and motivate them to take risks and develop academically.

The Current Landscape

Despite the promising evidence, Boston Public Schools has only provided high-dosage tutoring to about 350 of its roughly 50,000 students. This represents a missed opportunity to address learning gaps and support student success.

How High-Impact Tutoring Works

Our model is simple but powerful:

• Small group sessions (3:1 student-to-tutor ratio)
• Consistent, frequent interactions
• Targeted, purposeful instruction
• Professional training for tutors

A Scalable Solution

Our approach has been successful in various districts nationwide. In Chicago, we assigned more than 600 tutors to 229 schools, leading to significant improvements in learning. Early data indicated progress similar to two-thirds of a year of learning, which is enough to recover from the learning loss caused by the pandemic.

A Path Forward

Creating a citywide high-impact tutoring program is possible. While worries about costs are valid, Boston has several ways to secure funding.

• Federal work-study dollars
• AmeriCorps funding
• Potential budget reallocation
• Savings from enrollment adjustments

Boston has everything needed for a strong tutoring program. By using just under 2% of the district’s $1.5 billion budget, we could significantly improve educational results for many students.

Our Commitment

At Saga Education, we’re not just proposing a solution – we’re ready to partner with districts like Boston to implement high-impact tutoring effectively.

The evidence is compelling. The potential is enormous. It’s time for Boston to fully embrace high-impact tutoring and give its students the educational support they deserve.

Accountability is an essential characteristic of Saga Tutors. We are committed to your students’ education and helping them learn and grow.

Discover how Saga Education Solutions can close the learning gap at your school or district.