Research Database
This tool allows education practitioners and researchers to quickly access quantitative research on tutoring program effectiveness. These 150+ research studies were selected due to their rigorous research designs which align with What Works Clearinghouse and Every Student Succeeds Act standards for moderate and strong evidence of intervention efficacy. Many studies were originally identified by their inclusion in recent meta-analyses (Baye et al., 2018; Neitzel et al., 2021; Nickow et al., 2020). Research may be sorted by grade level, subject, and tutor type in order to explore the evidence base for particular program designs. This database does not include qualitative research on best practices for tutoring implementation, for which we recommend exploring our District Playbook and Toolkit for Tutoring Programs.
If you have additional research studies (quantitative or qualitative) that you would like to share, please fill out this form or send an email to info@studentsupportaccelerator.org.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36A Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effectiveness of Descubriendo la Lectura. (2019). Borman, G. D., Borman, T. H., Park, S. J., & Houghton, S.. American Educational Research Journal. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3102/0002831219890612
A multi-sensory tutoring program for students atrisk of reading difficulties: Evidence from a randomized field experiment. (2019). Bøg, M., Dietrichson, J., & Aldenius, A.. Working Paper. https://ideas.repec.org/p/hhs/ifauwp/2019_007.html
The Impacts of Reading Recovery at scale: Results from the 4-year i3 external evaluation. (2018). Sirinides, P., Gray, A., & May, H.. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3102/0162373718764828
Examining the Effects and Feasibility of a Teacher-Implemented Tier 1 and Tier 2 Intervention in Word Reading, Fluency, and Comprehension. (2018). Solari, E. J., Denton, C. A., Petscher, Y., & Haring, C.. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 11(2), 163–191. https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2017.1375582
Reading Recovery: An Evaluation of the Four-Year i3 Scale-Up. (2016). May, H., Sirinides, P. M., Gray, A., & Goldsworthy, H.. CPRE Research Reports. https://repository.upenn.edu/cpre_researchreports/81/
Intervention for first graders with limited number knowledge: Large-scale replication of a randomized controlled trial. (2015). Gersten, R., Rolfhus, E., Clarke, B., Decker, L. E., Wilkins, C., & Dimino, J. (2015). American Educational Research Journal, 52(3), 516–546. https://doi.org/10.3102/0002831214565787
Examining the efficacy of Burst:Reading literacy intervention . (2015). Pappas, S., York, A., Wang, Y., & Richards, K.. https://charts.intensiveintervention.org/intervention/toolGRP/b72b5683944c3bf5
Intensive Reading Remediation in Grade 2 or 3: Are There Effects a Decade Later?. (2014). Blachman, B. A., Schatschneider, C., Fletcher, J. M., Murray, M. S., Munger, K. A., & Vaughn, M. G.. Journal of Educational Psychology, 106(1), 46–57. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033663
Evaluating math recovery: Assessing the causal impact of a diagnostic tutoring program on student achievement. (2013). Smith, T. M., Cobb, P., Farran, D. C., Cordray, D. S., & Munter, C. . American Educational Research Journal, 50(2), 397–428. https://doi.org/10.3102/0002831212469045
Every Child Counts: Testing policy effectiveness using a randomised controlled trial, designed, conducted and reported to CONSORT standards. (2013). Torgerson, C. J., Wiggins, A., Torgerson, D., Ainsworth, H., & Hewitt, C. . doi:10.1080/14794802.2013.797746. doi:10.1080/14794802.2013.797746
Live webcam coaching to help early elementary classroom teachers provide effective literacy instruction for struggling readers: The Targeted Reading Intervention. (2013). Vernon-Feagans, L., Kainz, K., Hedrick, A., Ginsberg, M., & Amendum, S.. Journal of Educational Psychology, 105(4), 1175–1187. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032143
Efficacy of the Leveled Literacyeracy Intervention System for K–2 urban students: An empirical evaluation of LLI in Denver Public Schools. (2013). Ransford-Kaldon, C. R., Ross, C. L., Lee, C. C., Sutton Flynt, E., Franceschini, L. A., & Zoblotsky, T. A.. Memphis, TN: Center for Research in Educational Policy.. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Study/85470
Pearson Words Their Way: Word study in action: Intervention efficacy study final report . (2011). Eddy, R. M., Ruitman, H. T., Hankel, N., Matelski, M. H., & Schmalstig, M. . La Verne, CA: Cobblestone Applied Research
The effectiveness of a technologically facilitated classroom-based early reading intervention. (2011). Amendum, S. J., Vernon-Feagans, L., & Ginsberg, M. C.. The Elementary School Journal, 112(1), 107–131. https://doi.org/10.1086/660684
Effects of a randomised reading intervention study: An application of structural equation modelling. (2011). Wolff, U.. Dyslexia (Chichester, England), 17(4), 295–311. https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.438
Implementation of effective intervention: An empirical study to evaluate the efficacy of fountas & pinnell’s leveled literacy intervention system . (2010). Ransford-Kaldon, C. R., Flynt, E. S., Ross, C. L., Franceschini, L., Zoblotsky, T., Huang, Y., & Gallagher, B.. Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP). https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED544374
Effectiveness of a supplemental early reading intervention scaled up in multiple schools. (2010). Denton, C. A., Nimon, K., Mathes, P. G., Swanson, E. A., Kethley, C., Kurz, T. B., & Shih, M.. The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk. https://www.meadowscenter.org/library/resource/effectiveness-of-a-supplemental-…
Computer assisted instruction to prevent early reading difficulties in students at risk for dyslexia: Outcomes from two instructional approaches. (2009). Torgesen, J. K., Wagner, R. K., Rashotte, C. A., Herron, J., & Lindamood, P. . Annals of Dyslexia, 60(1), 40–56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11881-009-0032-y
Effects of preventative tutoring on the mathematical problem solving of third-grade students with math and reading difficulties. (2008). Fuchs, L. S., Seethaler, P. M., Powell, S. R., Fuchs, D., Hamlett, C. L., & Fletcher, J. M.. Exceptional Children. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2832201/
A study of Perason's My Sidewalks program: Final Report. (2008). Wilkerson, S. B. . Louisa, VA: Magnolia Consulting. http://www.successforall.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SREE_StrugglingReaders_…
Closing the reading gap: Findings from a randomized trial of four reading interventions for striving readers. (2007). Torgesen, J. K., Schirm, A., Castner, L., Vartivarian, S., Mansfield, W., Myers, D., … Haan, C. . Washington, D.C.: US Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pdf/20084013.pdf
Effectiveness of an English intervention for first-grade English language learners at risk for reading problems. (2006). Vaughn, Sharon, et al.. The Elementary School Journal, 107(2). https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/510653
The effects of theoretically different instruction and student characteristics on the skills of struggling readers. (2005). Mathes, P. G., Denton, C. A., Fletcher, J. M., Anthony, J. L., Francis, D. J., & Schatschneider, C.. Reading Research Quarterly. https://www.smu.edu/-/media/Site/Simmons/Research/IEBE/16848730---Scale-Up-RRQ…
Literacyeracy Learning of At-Risk First-Grade Students in the Reading Recovery Early Intervention. (2005). Schwartz, R. M.. Journal of Educational Psychology. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232534076_Literacyeracy_Learning_of_At…
Severe Reading Difficulties--Can They Be Prevented? A Comparison of Prevention and Intervention Approaches. (2005). Scanlon, D. M., Vellutino, F. R., Small, S. G., Fanuele, D. P., & Sweeney, J. M.. Exceptionality, 13(4), 209–227. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327035ex1304_3
Effects of intensive reading remediation for second and third graders and a 1-year follow-up. (2004). Blachman, B. A., Schatschneider, C., Fletcher, J. M., Francis, D. J., Clonan, S. M., Shaywitz, B. A., & Shaywitz, S. E.. Journal of Educational Psychology. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2004-18154-004
Teaching reading to poor readers in the intermediate grades: A comparison of text difficulty. (2002). O'Connor, R. E., Bell, K. M., Harty, K. R., Larkin, L. K., Sackor, S. M., & Zigmond, N.. Journal of Educational Psychology. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2002-18006-003
Early Steps: Replicating the effects of a first-grade reading intervention program. (2000). Morris, D., Tyner, B., & Perney, J.. Journal of Educational Psychology, 92(4), 681–693. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.92.4.681
Longitudinal Study of the Reading Recovery Program. (1999). Huggins, R.. Detroit, MI: Detroit Public Schools Retried April 8, 2021 from Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC). https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED430067.pdf
Prevention and remediation of severe reading disabilities: Keeping the end in mind. (1997). Torgesen, J. K., Wagner, R. K., & Rashotte, C. A.. Scientific Studies of Reading, 1(3), 217–234. https://doi.org/10.1207/s1532799xssr0103_3