California’s High-Impact Tutoring Solutions Sprint:
Design, Fund and Implement an Effective Program for Student Success
Results for America, in partnership with the National Student Support Accelerator (NSSA) and grounded in research commissioned by EdResearch for Action, invites teams from California local education agencies (LEAs) to apply for this 8-session virtual learning opportunity. This program is designed for teams committed to advancing evidence-based high-impact tutoring in California schools and districts, and is offered in collaboration with the California State Board of Education, Department of Education Expanded Learning Division, and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence.
Selected teams will receive expert guidance on designing, funding and implementing an evidence-based high-impact tutoring program. Participants will gain insights from leading LEAs, nonprofits and community partners, learning best practices and connecting with peers at various stages of program development.
Impact of RFA’s Previous High-Impact Tutoring Learning Series:
- 95% of the teams reported progress in advancing high-impact tutoring programs, including strengthening implementation strategies, deepening stakeholder relationships, and identifying new funding.
- 100% of participants said the learning series met their expectations.
- 100% would recommend the experience to a colleague.
Key Dates:
- Applications due: Wednesday, August 20, 2025
- Applicants will be notified by: Wednesday, September 16, 2025
- Sprint Kickoff: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
- Duration: 8 weekly sessions (October 7 – November 25, 2025, on Tuesdays from 10 – 11:30 a.m. PT
Sprint Goals & Objectives:
Participating teams will work through an 8-session online learning curriculum with a cohort of peers from California local education agencies. By the end of the sprint, participants will:
- Understand the 8 key design principles of an effective and evidence-based high-impact tutoring program.
- Understand how a high-impact tutoring program can advance student achievement goals.
- Develop an evidence-based action plan for launching or improving a high-impact tutoring program to meet the needs of their specific context.
- Learn how to use data in designing, evaluating and improving high-impact tutoring programs.
- Understand how to apply the 8 key design principles of high-impact tutoring to define evidence in requests for proposals (RFP), contracts and project charters.
- Understand and be able to apply evidence-based spending strategies to increase the impact of investments in high-impact tutoring.
- Identify federal, state and local funding sources they can use for high-impact tutoring, with a focus on California-specific funding opportunities.
- Establish and/or strengthen relationships with peers across the state who are implementing high-impact tutoring programs.
- Learn from leading local education agencies in California and nationally that have implemented effective high-impact tutoring programs and apply those lessons to their local context.
- Have the opportunity to apply for a year-long outcomes-based contracting cohort.
At the end of the sprint, participants will have created an action plan that may include:
- A draft RFP, contract or project charter that defines and prioritizes the key design principles of an evidence-based high-impact tutoring program.
- A high-impact tutoring model that reflects the evidence base and local capacity.
- A scope of work for an evidence-based budget.
- At least one potential funding source identified to launch, expand or sustain a tutoring program.
- A data collection and evaluation plan.
- A concrete timeline and next steps for implementation.
SPRINT DETAILS:
- When: Weekly 1.5 hour sessions on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. PT from October 7 – November 25, 2025
- Where: Virtually via virtual workshops, coaching and cohort discussions on Zoom. Between virtual sessions, teams will have access to resources and discussion boards via the Results Network, RFA’s secure online collaboration platform.
WHO SHOULD APPLY:
The California High-Impact Tutoring Solutions Sprint opportunity is designed for teams from California local education agencies (LEAs) who are interested in implementing or expanding evidence-based high-impact tutoring programs in their schools and districts.
The strongest applications will include teams that bring together a diverse group of key stakeholders to maximize the opportunity and establish a foundation for long-term success. See below for our recommendations.
TEAM REQUIREMENTS:
- At least 2 members, although 3+ are recommended
- At least one participant from a local education agency (public school districts, public charter schools, public charter networks, County Offices of Education, etc.) with oversight over the agency’s high-impact tutoring program
- At least one participant from a local education agency (public school districts, public charter schools, public charter networks, County Offices of Education, etc.) with the authority and support to modify the policies, practices, and content of an RFP/NOFO and/or contract to strengthen the role that evidence plays (e.g., Chief Financial Officer, Chief Budget Officer, Procurement Director, Grant Manager)
- Recommended to include team members in the following offices or titles:
- School leaders, educators, union representatives (as appropriate)
- Families, caregivers, and/or representatives from family engagement teams
- School board members
- Staff members who oversee the LEA’s or county office of education’s federal programs
- Expanded Learning Directors, Coordinators or Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSA), or a similar role with responsibility and/or oversight over Expanded Learning grant-funded programs
- Community-based partners/advocacy organizations
ABOUT THE SPRINT FACILITATORS:
Weekly sessions will be designed and led by:
- National Student Support Accelerator (NSSA), a program housed at Stanford University that offers schools, local education agencies, states and tutoring providers open access tools and technical assistance for implementing and improving high-impact tutoring programs.
- Results for America (RFA), a non-profit organization that works with governments to identify and implement evidence-based policies and practices. Over the last several years, RFA has successfully run various Solutions Sprints, supporting over 100 jurisdictions in implementing evidence-based solutions and benchmarking their progress towards better outcomes for their communities.
QUESTIONS?
Email: Check out California HIT Sprint Participant FAQ or Email [email protected]
WHY IMPLEMENT HIGH-IMPACT TUTORING?
Rigorous research has shown that high-impact tutoring can accelerate learning for a wide range of students, particularly those who have fallen behind academically. A review of nearly 200 studies found that high-impact tutoring is one of a few school-based interventions that produce large, positive effects on both math and reading. For students from lower income families, tutoring has been shown to be one of the most effective educational approaches to improve academic achievement.
Tutoring is considered high-impact if it:
- Provides school-day tutoring sessions three or more times per week, for a minimum of 10 weeks.
- Pairs groups of three or fewer students with a consistent, well-trained and supported tutor.
- Uses high-quality instructional materials aligned with classroom content.
- Regularly assesses student progress and tailors instruction to meet their needs.
Go deeper: Read an EdResearch for Action brief examining the evidence for high-impact tutoring and outlining proven design principles of effective programs. Explore best practices for implementing a high-impact tutoring program on Results for America’s Economic Mobility Catalog.
Why now: The latest “Nation’s Report Card” confirms that most students have yet to recover from pandemic learning loss, despite historic federal investments. With widening achievement gaps and uncertainty around federal funding, state and local education agencies must ensure every dollar drives real impact for students.
High-impact tutoring is one of the most effective ways to help students catch up, yet fewer than half of schools (37%) offered it at the start of the 2024-2025 school year. Schools cite funding, staffing and scheduling as key barriers. But there are sustainable solutions to expand access to this proven strategy – ensuring more students get the support they need to succeed.
Learn more about successful models nationally, including in California: Watch this webinar featuring leaders from Santa Ana Unified, Milpitas Unified and Washington Unified school districts as they share how they designed and implemented high-impact tutoring programs – and the difference those programs are making for their students. Read a case study of how Chicago Public Schools implemented high-impact math tutoring and is doubling – and sometimes tripling – the amount of math over 2,500 students learn each year.