High-Impact Tutoring: A New Chapter in Arkansas' K-12 Education Story

By Brad Baumgartner | 24 October 2023

Gaps in achievement and increasing attrition

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit education systems worldwide, and Arkansas is no exception. The shift to remote learning has led to sustained gaps in achievement for many students. Moreover, the heightened stress and shifting responsibilities have pushed more teachers out of the profession , creating an issue of both quantity and quality in educational staffing.

So, where does Arkansas go from here?

High-impact tutoring

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently announced the Arkansas LEARNS Act . Among other innovative solutions, such as goals to reach 100% adoption of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) aligned to the Science of Reading in all districts, this funding provides schools with funds to launch initiatives for high-impact tutoring. Grounded in research, this approach fills the educational gaps that have widened during the pandemic, serving as a supplemental resource for overwhelmed teachers. High-impact tutoring isn't merely a temporary fix; it's a long-term, sustainable solution. Its flexibility makes it easy to implement, offering tailored learning to meet students’ unique needs.

The future of high-impact tutoring in Arkansas

High-impact tutoring isn't just about supplementing classroom instruction; it's about transforming how students engage with learning in a more targeted manner. According to the Institute of Educational Sciences, several key components contribute to a successful high-impact tutoring program:

• Frequent and Consistent Sessions: Having well-trained tutors consistently work with the same students across frequent sessions ensures a continuity that has yielded greater student success.
• Individual or Small-Group Interactions: The setting matters. A 1:1 or small-group environment allows for tailored learning, making addressing students' unique needs easier.
• Research-Based, Standards-Aligned Instructional Materials: Utilizing research-driven instructional materials aligned with educational standards ensures that tutoring supplements school learning in a cohesive manner.
• Data-Driven Approach: The continuous use of data and informal assessments supports instruction and measures impact, allowing for agile adaptations to meet evolving student needs.

By integrating these components, quality high-impact tutoring solutions like BookNook can seamlessly fit into Arkansas' existing educational ecosystem. Whether the tutoring is conducted in-house by school faculty or through a virtual tutor service, these key principles enable a consistent, flexible, and research-driven approach to instruction. This aligns with educational standards and allows students to be tracked by reliable reading proficiency measures, thereby offering a sustainable solution for educational success for Arkansas learners.

How BookNook elevates learning outcomes

BookNook's synchronous online learning platform is engineered to make a tangible impact on student performance in Arkansas. Here's what sets us apart:

1. Targeted Learning: BookNook’s approach ensures that each tutoring session is focused on students' needs. This tailored learning leads to noticeable improvements in students' reading skills.
2. Standards-Aligned Instructional Materials: The use of research-driven, standards-aligned instructional materials ensures that students are learning in a manner consistent with Arkansas’ educational framework.
3. Data-Driven Decisions: Our platform continuously collects data to track student progress with lessons and learning standards.
4. Flexible Implementation: The flexibility of our platform ensures a smooth, hassle-free integration into existing educational systems.

Why Arkansas needs this now

As Arkansas faces the cumulative challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and dwindling teacher numbers, the timing couldn't be better for a shift toward high-impact tutoring. It's not just a stopgap but a strategic move that promises a high return on investment. With its ability to be implemented swiftly, high-impact tutoring can start making a difference in the current academic year and could potentially reshape Arkansas' educational landscape for the better.

Arkansas has a rich history of being a trailblazer in education. As the state grapples with contemporary challenges, high-impact tutoring emerges as a powerful catalyst for change. By focusing on research-driven methods and flexible implementation cycles, Arkansas can write a new chapter in its educational history—one where every student has the tools they need to succeed.

In a landscape marked by change and challenges, high-impact tutoring stands out as a beacon of promise, setting a new course for educational success in Arkansas.

This article was originally published on our blog .