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Does Tutoring Work?
Emily, a lawyer residing in Texas, recalls being exposed to Mathnasium, a tutoring center with a focus on mathematics, through various channels in her community, possibly during her volunteer work at local schools or neighborhood gatherings. Conversations among parents in her circle often highlighted the positive experiences their children had with the tutoring service, prompting Emily to reevaluate her son Lyle’s difficulties with math. (For privacy purposes, only first names are used.)
At the conclusion of 1st grade, Emily observed that Lyle struggled with basic math facts like 2 + 3 = 5 and often became confused with addition and subtraction. Homework assignments, which she routinely assisted with, seemed to cause him considerable anxiety, and by the end of 2nd grade, Lyle was already expressing concerns about the challenges of multiplication awaiting him in 3rd grade.
“I get the sense they’re not prioritizing memorization” of basic math facts at his public school, Emily explained. However, other parents who enrolled their children in Mathnasium several times a week reported significant improvements in their children’s academic performance and even noted invitations to honors math classes for some students.
“If my attempts to help him at home aren’t sufficient, I would consider Mathnasium as an option to support his development, especially to strengthen his reading skills as well,” she mentioned. “I have my limits in what I can teach. Why not rely on the experts?”
Many parents opt for tutoring after hearing about its success from peers—a network effect that underscores the potential benefits of such educational support. Alexander Wiseman, a professor of educational leadership policy at Texas Tech University, points out that family networks that provide “shadow education” systems through tutoring exist globally, not just in wealthier communities. Wiseman notes that this trend arises from a cultural emphasis on educational success; when children struggle academically, parents believe that additional learning options can help address these issues.
According to a study of global PISA data, the likelihood of students seeking private tutoring increases when there is a perception of declining school quality. Wiseman’s research indicates both affluent and less-privileged families pursue tutoring, albeit through different means.
“Low-income families often find themselves in underfunded schools with fewer resources, compelling them to seek private tutoring despite the cost,” Wiseman noted. “Conversely, many may prefer personal tutoring arrangements or assistance from family members over commercial tutoring programs.”
Research indicates that the steep rise in tutoring services, particularly in brick-and-mortar centers, is notably prevalent in affluent suburbs such as Brentwood, Tennessee, and sections of Austin, Texas, where public schools are generally well-funded and perceived as high-performing. A study by Kim and colleagues, set to appear in the journal Education Finance and Policy, found that over half of tutoring centers like Kumon and Mathnasium are situated in districts within the top 20 percent of income distribution.
“It is predominantly families in wealthier districts that are most actively utilizing tutoring services,” observed co-author Joshua Goodman, an associate professor at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. “However, our research lacks detail on the motivations behind families’ choices to engage with these centers.”
Goodman speculates that the drive for academic success, particularly in securing college placements, may lead families to invest in tutoring. Additionally, the affordability of public schooling might allow these families to allocate resources toward supplementary educational support, which is often more economical than private school tuition.
Parents frequently gravitate toward tutoring, as they, like Emily, hear about positive outcomes for other students. Evidence aligns with such anecdotal observations, indicating that tutoring can yield favorable results under optimal circumstances. Educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom posited in the 1980s that individualized tutoring could enhance student performance to a degree far exceeding that of standard classroom experiences. More recent evaluations confirm this, suggesting both small-group and individual tutoring can effectively bolster proficiency in subjects like reading and mathematics. For example, research conducted by Jonathan Guryan and colleagues demonstrated significant increases in math test scores and overall grades among low-income Chicago students enrolled in Saga Education’s tutoring program.
A recent meta-analysis encompassing numerous controlled studies of tutoring initiatives, including the Saga study, identified that high-quality tutoring—characterized as individualized or small-group instruction with trained teachers—consistently enhanced student performance, particularly for foundational skills in early education. The tutoring programs analyzed were predominantly nonprofit efforts integrated into the public school framework.
“The consistent success of tutoring programs has truly impressed us,” remarked Vincent Quan, co-executive director of J-PAL North America and a co-author of the study. “While we don’t claim tutoring is a cure-all, it stands out as an effective intervention for improving educational outcomes, even for students significantly behind their peers.”
An Ed Research for Action report further elucidates factors contributing to successful tutoring outcomes, indicating that early literacy, along with middle and high school mathematics, benefits immensely, particularly when students maintain a steady relationship with their tutor.
“Typically, one educator is tasked with instructing 30 students, but tutoring provides a unique opportunity for a dedicated educator to consistently work with either a single student or a small group,” explained Stanford researcher Carly Robinson, a co-author of the report. “This allows the educator to address specific instructional needs as they arise, which can have a transformative impact on the student’s learning experience.”
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