The Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) is implementing new tutoring services to supplement existing tutorial programs in its schools. Qualifying parents and students will be notified of the program beginning Nov. 1.
The Board of Education approved contracts with five tutoring companies during its Wednesday, Oct. 6 meeting. LBUSD is providing each tutoring company with $150,000—totaling $750,000—and will increase that amount as needed, depending on student demand.
The cost will be covered by state and federal COVID-relief funds, Superintendent Jill Baker said. Those funds total to nearly $470 million over five years, according to Chief Business and Financial Officer Yumi Takahashi.
The board learned during a workshop last spring that students across all grade levels except kindergarten fell behind as the COVID pandemic forced most students to attend classes online from March 2020 to April 2021.
Among high schoolers, graduation and college readiness rates fell, and middle schoolers similarly fell behind in being ready for high school. The number of D and F grades increased by 14%.
About 15,000 LBUSD elementary students attended in-person summer school to help them catch up before the new academic year began at the end of August.
Tammy Lavelle, LBUSD director of initiatives and accountability, said this is the first time LBUSD has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to vet tutoring firms. Of the 14 companies that responded to the RFP, the district is contracting with five that demonstrated they can work with all LBUSD students, including those with disabilities or for whom English is a second language.
Lavelle said LBUSD also studied tutoring models to determine best practices for its new initiative, which include tutoring by credentialed teachers who get ongoing professional development.
The new program will also have students meet with the same tutor at least three days per week for an average of 30 minutes—20 minutes for younger students and 45 to 60 minutes for older students—either individually or in groups of five or less, Lavelle said.
Tutoring will also align with the student’s curriculum and be conducted during school days or Saturdays, she added.
Her office is currently working on implementing the new initiative at each school and plans to roll out the program on Nov. 1, Lavelle said. The district is also designing a central system to monitor program implementation and track student progress.
Board members asked how many students would be helped by the new tutoring, but Lavelle answered that it remains to be seen, only noting that the average cost of tutoring a student is $50 per hour and each firm is starting with a $150,000 contract.
Qualifying students for the new tutoring initiative are those two years behind in reading or math, per the district’s new “i-Ready” diagnostic assessment tool, Lavelle said. Students are beginning using that tool this month, according to LBUSD’s assessment schedule.
Board President Juan Benitez said the community has been asking for more tutoring services for the past two years.
Baker explained that the district didn’t want “just anyone” tutoring its students and therefore took time to vet prospective companies for proven effectiveness.
“This is a rigorous process,” she said.
Parents of a student who qualifies for the new tutoring program will be notified by the student’s school beginning Nov. 1, Lavelle said.
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