SAGA EDUCATION ANNUAL REPORT
Report on Fiscal Year July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO AND PRESIDENT
This past year, we’ve seen again how high-impact tutoring (HIT) can transform learning for students who need it most. We faced new headwinds as the flow of federal stimulus dollars (ESSER) waned, and AmeriCorps grants (including Saga’s) ended. This funding landscape reinforced the need for strong, sustainable public/private funding sources to maintain the implementation of tutoring nationwide.
OUR PROGRESS AND SUCCESS
Last year, we launched new partnerships in Philadelphia and Boston, expanded middle school math programs in New York City and Chicago, and deepened our three-year initiative in Maryland. Chicago’s success also helped us pilot lower-cost models that make HIT more accessible. In New Mexico, rigorous research confirmed that when tutoring is built into the school day, delivered consistently, and scaled with care, students make meaningful gains.
In New Mexico, according to a University of Chicago
Education Lab study, students averaged 32 hours of live-online tutoring during the school year, and they learned 38% more in one year than non-tutored peers. Saga supported this state program with tutor preservice training, ongoing professional development, and site inspections. Now consider Chicago students, who in Saga’s direct service received on average about 70 hours of Saga tutoring. They learned 100% more — double — as compared to their non-tutored peers. We can make two conclusions from this comparison. First, both models (Saga-supported and directly run programs) achieve substantial student gains (even if delivered through live-online tutoring). Second, tutoring dosage students actually receive is a critical variable in the equation “dosage times quality equals impact.”
INNOVATING FOR IMPACT
As a nonprofit, Saga continues to improve the quality of tutoring nationwide. With our AI-powered tools, coaches have access to detailed feedback to help tutors be more effective, tutors can receive daily advice and training on refreshed online skills modules, and districts can provide stronger, more cost-efficient support.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Nearly one million students risk failing Algebra 1 each year — a critical gateway to graduation. At a time when funding is uncertain, districts need solutions that are both effective and sustainable. We know tutoring works. We know it can be integrated into the school day. We know that if districts help students succeed at clearing the Algebra 1 gateway, they will preserve subsequent per pupil dollars that otherwise would be lost due to students dropping out because of academic failures. Now the question is how states and districts fund it long-term. We’re excited to partner with states, districts, and funders over the next year to share solutions to this crucial question.
BOLD VISION
By 2033, we aim for every U.S. district to integrate high-impact tutoring into their budgets, schedules, and staffing. With your support, this vision is possible. Together, we can Change the Equation®— for our students, our schools, and our future.
Thank you for believing in this work.
Onwards,
Alan Safran (CEO and co-founder)
Yessica Cancel (President)
Yessica Cancel (President)
A SPECIAL THANKS TO SAGA'S CO-FOUNDER
Saga thanks AJ Gutierrez, co-founder of Saga, for his 11 years of service and leadership. Everything Saga has done, all our successes and challenges, have reflected in no small way AJ’s wisdom and passion for the work.
AJ and Alan created Saga after they had known each other at the Match School since 2002, when AJ was a freshman and Alan was the Executive Director there. AJ was in the very first class of students to receive high dosage tutoring (2004), and ten years later co-founded Saga with Alan to support students like himself. AJ has gone on to be a CEO of another mission-driven nonprofit, and we wish him the very best.
Saga provides crucial support within my classroom, allowing for more individualized attention
and deeper engagement with mathematical concepts for my students. The additional adult presence ensures that
students receive the focused support they need, creating a more conducive learning environment where positive
behaviors flourish and academic growth is prioritized. We anticipate continued positive impact from Saga.”
— Laurence Fernandez
math teacher, Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy, Baltimore
OUR STORY
OUR ROOTS
DRIVING SYSTEMIC CHANGE
We work to make high-quality, in-school tutoring a regular part of K–12 education. By supporting students, educators, and district and state leaders, we show that high-impact tutoring (HIT) is a proven way to boost learning. Changing policies, practices, and funding ensures all students can access this support.
WIDESPREAD SCALE
DIRECT SERVICES
MISSION
We leverage the proven power of HIT to transform public education and improve outcomes for underserved students.
VISION
Saga will help accelerate educational equity so every student can imagine and achieve their potential.
OUR IMPACT
PROGRAM AREAS OF SUPPORT
During the 2024-2025 school year, Saga supported 21 state/district partnerships and approximately 15,000 students through the following partnerships:
• State Department of Education partnerships
- Maryland (1 district)
- New Mexico (13 districts)
• School district partnerships
- Boston Public Schools, MA
- Chicago Public Schools, IL
- Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
- Fulton County Schools, GA
- Milford Public Schools, MA
- Orange County Public Schools, FL
- The School District of Philadelphia, PA
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Chicago, IL
• New York City, NY
EXPANDING OUR REACH WITH STATES AND DISTRICTS
EXPANDING OUR REACH WITH STATES AND DISTRICTS
Saga is partnering with states and districts nationwide to bring high-impact tutoring (HIT) to students who need it most. In 2024–25, our Widespread program reached over 15,000 students in 400+ schools and trained 1,400+ tutors to deliver high-quality instruction.
Milestone Partnerships
New partnerships in Boston and Philadelphia expanded access and supported student learning. Philadelphia marks Saga’s first outcomes-based contract, linking success directly to student growth. By sharing risk and reward with the district, both partners stay accountable to the results that matter most: student achievement.
Flexible Models for Every District
This year, Saga launched its Progressive Services Approach, unifying how districts access, implement, and scale high-impact tutoring. Building on our Direct and Widespread programs, the model offers a flexible continuum—from Saga-led to fully district-owned services—while maintaining consistent quality, accountability, and implementation standards
At its core, the model pairs customized support with non-negotiable quality across recruitment, training, supervision, program management, technology, and instructional monitoring. It clearly defines roles for Saga and districts, ensuring every partner benefits from our frameworks for tutor preparation, coaching, growth measurement, and high-quality instructional materials.
Looking Ahead
DIRECT SERVICES PROGRAM: PAVING THE WAY FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
DIRECT SERVICES PROGRAM: PAVING THE WAY FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
Saga’s Direct Services Program brings high-impact tutoring (HIT) directly into schools, helping students build skills, confidence, and measurable academic growth.
Early Math Gains
In FY2025, our middle school pilot in New York City aimed to narrow math proficiency gaps. Supported by the Dell Foundation, the program expanded to two schools in Chicago, reaching students earlier and more effectively.
Rapid Growth in Maryland
Saga’s Maryland tutoring initiative tripled the number of teams supporting students in Baltimore City Public Schools from last year to this current school year. This work, supported by Arnold Ventures, highlights the model’s adaptability and impact in diverse settings. This fall, Saga expanded its direct services to tutor roughly 600 students at four schools in Prince George’s County Public Schools.
Proven Impact in Chicago
Students in Chicago schools showed meaningful growth on the STAR assessment. Our co-designed, lower-cost pilot models with Chicago Public Schools make high-quality tutoring sustainable and scalable, increasing access for more students.
Innovating Tutor Development
In the current fiscal year, our “learning sprints” framework combines AI insights, coaching, and updated modules to tailor training to each tutor. Pilots with part-time tutors will test ways to expand reach while reducing costs. Saga’s Direct Services Program continues to set the standard for HIT — testing innovations, strengthening instruction, and laying the foundation for national scaling. With your support, we can continue to Change the Equation® for students across the country.
We’ve seen an increase in passing rates , and it’s clear that both the students and staff involved genuinely care about the progress being made. Saga has been a valuable support system for our school community.”
— Donieshia Johnson
Assistant Principal, Clemente HS (Chicago)
ADVANCING TUTORING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND THE QUALITY TUTORING FRAMEWORK
ADVANCING TUTORING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND THE QUALITY TUTORING FRAMEWORK
Saga is strengthening tutoring nationwide by embedding our Quality Tutoring Framework (QTF) into every part of tutor training, technology, and support. The QTF is designed to help school districts implement high-impact tutoring with fidelity by establishing targeted skills tutors need to conduct high-quality tutorials, customizable learning pathways. These skills are grouped into three categories: culture, student mathematical work, and active learning community. The framework also serves as a coaching tool, providing resources for observing tutorials and offering targeted guidance to tutors for skill advancement.
Tutor Development
Ongoing training, coaching, and observations now align with the QTF. Tutors receive daily, personalized tips, and coaches get AI-powered feedback from tutorial recordings. This accelerates tutor growth, improves student outcomes, and saves tutors’ and coaches’ time.
AI-Assisted Support
Our Tutor Sprint Cycles – a series of six-week cycles over the school year that allow coaches to assess and meet tutors where they are – integrate coaching, observations, QTF guidance, and AI insights. Self-paced modules in Saga Coach give tutors flexible skill-building, while AI feedback helps coaches target support where it matters most.
Instructional Innovation
We’re also testing tools to visualize student discourse, helping tutors see how students engage in tutorials. These insights guide instruction and coaching to strengthen learning.
Impact and Efficiency
By combining the QTF with AI-supported coaching and personalized training, Saga enhances tutor effectiveness, scales high-impact tutoring efficiently, and reduces costs for districts. With the Overdeck Family Foundation’s support, Saga is developing and leveraging innovative technologies to accelerate evidence-based tutoring, so more students receive the high-quality, in-school support they need to succeed.
MEET DONNIE - A SAGA TUTOR
MEET DONNIE - A SAGA TUTOR
During his first year, Donnie served at the High School of Fashion Industries in New York City, tutoring students in algebra. Working with small groups of students confirmed his desire to teach. He recalls one student who preferred to communicate through chat and often doodled during lessons. By connecting her interests to math, Donnie helped her improve significantly over the year.
Beyond tutoring, Donnie appreciated Saga’s benefits, including childcare assistance, which helped him balance responsibilities at home. His experience has reinforced his decision to pursue a career in teaching. “If I at all affected a student’s outlook on math, even just a little, that means the world to me,” he says.
Looking ahead, Donnie hopes to see programs like Saga expand to communities like Newark, New Jersey, where he grew up. He is actively contributing to this vision today, helping students excel in his new role as a computer science teacher at a KIPP New Jersey school in his hometown.
Want to learn more about Saga tutors? Hear more stories from Saga tutors about their work to support students and enter teaching careers in our Tutor 2 Teacher series.
TUTORING THAT TRANSFORMS: STORIES FROM SAGA MATH STUDENTS
TUTORING THAT TRANSFORMS:
STORIES FROM SAGA MATH STUDENTS
MEET BRITTANY – A SAGA STUDENT IN BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Brittany* joined Saga’s Math Lab after finding parts of algebra confusing. “My tutor went through problems step by step until I understood,” she said. With support, she gained confidence to ask questions and saw her grades improve. “It definitely helps me when I need to understand more than I did before,” she shared, adding that tutoring has her thinking about tech careers.
*Name changed at the school’s request for privacy.
MEET AALIYAH – A SAGA STUDENT IN BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MEET JACARA – A SAGA STUDENT IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Before joining Saga’s Math Lab, Jacara felt overwhelmed by high school math. With her tutor, Ms. Gage, she built confidence and learned to “never struggle in silence.” Now a senior taking pre-Calculus and visiting colleges, she calls Math Lab “a really special place” that helped her comprehend and believe in herself.
PHILANTHROPY
Between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, Saga Education received $5,617,165 in philanthropic funding thanks to the generosity of our partners.
These investments, both for core operations and specific programs, power the work that matters most—helping us provide sustainable, high-impact tutoring that supports more students in reaching their full potential.
We are truly grateful to our philanthropic partners for making this work possible in FY25.
- The Abell Foundation
- Paul M. Angell Family Foundation
- Blue Meridian Partners
- Michael and Susan Dell Foundation
- Finnegan Family Foundation
- IMC Charitable Foundation
- Lohengrin Family Foundation
- Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust
- Overdeck Family Foundation
- Sherman Family Foundation
- The Trefler Foundation
- The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
Trusted. Transparent. Impactful.
Saga earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency, Candid’s highest recognition for accountability and impact. This honor reflects our commitment to trust, strong partnerships, and delivering results for the students and communities we serve.
FUNDERS SPOTLIGHT
At Saga Education, we know that our work to close educational opportunity gaps would not be possible without the partnership and generosity of our funders. Their investments go far beyond dollars; they represent trust in our model, belief in our students’ potential, and a shared vision for a future where every young person has access to the academic support they need to thrive.
In this section, we are proud to spotlight a few funders who made an extraordinary difference during fiscal years 2024–2025. Their commitment has fueled innovation, sustained high-quality programming, and advanced our efforts to embed sustainable high-impact tutoring models in schools nationwide.
The IMC Charitable Foundation’s investment supported Saga’s high-impact tutoring program across 21 Chicago Public Schools in the 2024–2025 academic year.
Thanks to their partnership:
- 79 AmeriCorps Fellows served as full-time Algebra 1 and Geometry tutors across 18 teams.
- Schools implemented a range of tutoring models— traditional, blended (with Mathia), live-online (Saga Connect), and hybrid—tailored to their needs.
- Tutor retention reached 75%, a key marker of program stability and quality.
- Math Exploration Time (MET) launched across all our teams employing the blended-learning model, giving students creative, active ways to strengthen their math skills.
Teachers and administrators expressed strong appreciation for both the academic support and the relationships that Saga tutors fostered. End-of-year surveys highlighted overwhelmingly positive feedback. Renaissance STAR assessment data indicated that Chicago students, on average, grew by 1.2 grade levels in Growth Equivalent scores, which is significantly higher than the average growth in math for Chicago students in a given school year, underscoring the impact of IMC’s support on student success and school communities.
Overdeck Family Foundation has been a catalyst in advancing Saga’s exploration of how artificial intelligence can strengthen high-impact tutoring. Their support is enabling us to design and test new AI tools that will:
- Analyze tutoring sessions at scale, using transcripts from live-online and in-person sessions to identify the dimensions of effective tutoring.
- Advance tutor professional development, providing individualized, timely feedback to help tutors grow their skills and improve student outcomes.
- Generate new insights for the field, shedding light on why tutoring is uniquely effective and how stronger engagement, relationships, and instructional strategies interact to drive student success.
By fueling this work, the Foundation is helping Saga unlock a deeper understanding of what makes tutoring powerful—and how to scale those insights so more students benefit. Their investment positions Saga at the forefront of using advanced AI not just to individualize instruction, but also to improve tutor practice, strengthen program quality, and contribute knowledge that will shape the future of education.
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