In a groundbreaking revelation, young children in the process of learning to read have demonstrated remarkable advancements following their participation in an intensive virtual tutoring program. These findings, unveiled today, appear to challenge established notions about the most effective methods to enhance academic performance. The program, known as OnYourMark, is specifically designed for students who faced significant difficulties in adapting to remote learning during the pandemic. Astonishingly, the research was conducted by experts who traditionally advocate for in-person tutoring, making these results all the more surprising.
The study, conducted across 12 elementary schools in Texas within the Uplift Education charter network, revealed that more than 1,000 students in grades K-2 who participated in the OnYourMark program outperformed their peers on literacy assessments. This translated into significant gains, with kindergarteners showing an extra 26 days of progress in letter sounds and first graders gaining 55 extra days in decoding skills when working with a dedicated tutor. Second graders did not experience the same level of improvement. Although virtual tutoring proved somewhat less effective than in-person instruction, this model could represent a breakthrough for schools in rural areas and those encountering difficulties in recruiting tutors. Many school districts have faced challenges in their pandemic recovery efforts due to the scarcity of qualified educators or volunteers. Research by Loeb and others has revealed that only a fraction of students in need take advantage of on-demand virtual tutoring programs.
OnYourMark Education, a nonprofit organization, differs significantly from the virtual models that were traditionally criticized by researchers like Loeb. This program is available four times a week during regular school hours and employs tutors who undergo training in the science of reading, including college students, retired educators, and those with experience in other virtual tutoring companies.
When the program was initially piloted with Uplift, Sjoblom had concerns about whether tutors could build strong relationships with young children remotely. The program's format was adjusted to 20-minute sessions, allowing tutors to engage in informal conversations with students before focusing on decoding and fluency, which proved to be more effective.
Currently, OnYourMark serves 22 schools across seven states, with plans to expand its reach further. The nonprofit received $250,000 in funding from Accelerate, an organization supporting effective tutoring programs, and is a semifinalist for the Yass Prize, a $1 million award recognizing successful education providers.
Susanna Loeb's team employed two widely used assessments, Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skills (DIBELS) and MAP Reading Fluency from NWEA, to assess the program's impact. The results showed that kindergarteners assigned to OnYourMark recognized 3.5 more letter sounds per minute compared to students without tutoring, and first graders displayed improvements in sound mastery and decoding skills.
Although the one-on-one model yielded the strongest results, the program remained effective when students worked in pairs with a tutor, making it a practical option in cases where staffing challenges exist. The outcomes among second graders were less significant, attributed to their delayed exposure to foundational skills due to the pandemic's impact.
Despite the challenges, achieving these results with a startup program is indeed impressive. Future research will focus on identifying the specific skills that tutors should emphasize when working with second and third graders.
OnYourMark effectively meets the needs of the Uplift network, offering tutoring for younger students, who are often overlooked by many tutoring companies that primarily target higher grade levels. This initiative provides support to a high-poverty population that may not have access to private tutoring, thus ensuring young readers receive the assistance they require. Ultimately, this program has been integrated into the school day, underscoring its high priority in educational support.