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 104A Scalable Approach to High-Impact Tutoring for Young Readers: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. (2024). Cortes, K. E., Kortecamp, K., Loeb, S., & Robinson, C. D.. EdWorkingPapers.com. https://doi.org/10.26300/pbn6-s898
The Impressive Effects of Tutoring on PreK-12 Learning: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Experimental Evidence. (2020). Nickow, A.J., Oreopoulos, P., & Quan, V.. EdWorkingPapers.com. https://doi.org/10.26300/eh0c-pc52
Effectiveness of an extracurricular program for struggling readers: A comparative study with parent tutors and volunteer tutors Learning and Instruction. (2019). Villiger, C., Hauri, S., Tettenborn, A., Hartmann, E., Näpflin, C., Hugener, I., & Niggli, A.. Learning and Instruction, 60, 54–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2018.11.004
Effectiveness of an extracurricular program for struggling readers: A comparative study with parent tutors and volunteer tutors. (2019). Villiger, C., Hauri, S., Tettenborn, A., Hartmann, E., Näpflin, C., Hugener, I., & Niggli, A.. Learning and Instruction, 60, 54–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2018.11.004
Efficacy of a Word- and Text-Based Intervention for Students With Significant Reading Difficulties. (2019). Vaughn, S., Roberts, G. J., Miciak, J., Taylor, P., & Fletcher, J. M.. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 52(1), 31–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022219418775113
Effects of the TutorBright tutoring programme on the reading and mathematics skills of children in foster care: A randomised controlled trial. (2019). Hickey, A., & Flynn, R.. Oxford Review of Education, 45, 519–537. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2019.1607724
A 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
Replication of an experimental study investigating the efficacy of a multisyllabic word reading intervention with and without motivational beliefs training for struggling readers. (2019). Toste, J. R., Capin, P., Williams, K. J., Cho, E., & Vaughn, S.. Journal of Learning Disabilities. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0022219418775114
Using moderator analysis to identify the first-grade children who benefit more and less from a reading comprehension program: A step toward aptitude-by-treatment interaction. (2019). Fuchs, D., Kearns, D. M., Fuchs, L. S., Elleman, A. M., Gilbert, J. K., Patton, S., ... & Compton, D. L.. Exceptional children. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0014402918802801
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
Evaluation Report. (2019). Nunes, T., Malmberg, L., Evans, D., Sanders-Ellis, D., Baker, S., Barros, R., Bryant, P., & Evangelou, M.. London: Education Endowment Foundation
Improving working memory Evaluation report and executive summary. (2019). Wright, W. Dorsett, R., Anders, J., Buzzeo, J, Runge, J., & Sanders, M.. London: Education Endowment Foundation. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/qxvvq/improving-working-memo…
Strengthening Children’s Math Skills with Enhanced Instruction The Impacts of Making Pre-K Count and High 5s on Kindergarten Outcomes. (2018). Mattera, S., Jacob, R., & Morris, P. . MDRC. https://www.mdrc.org/publication/strengthening-children-s-math-skills-enhanced-…
Read Two Impress and the Neurological Impress Method: Effects on elementary students’ reading fluency, comprehension, and attitude. (2018). Young, C., Pearce, D., Gomez, J., Christensen, R., Pletcher, B., & Fleming, K.. The Journal of Educational Research. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00220671.2017.1393650?forwardServic…
Benefits of structured after-school literacy tutoring by university students for struggling elementary readers. (2018). Lindo, E. J., Weiser, B., Cheatham, J. P., & Allor, J. H.. Reading & Writing Quarterly. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10573569.2017.1357156
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
1stClass@Number Evaluation report and executive summary. (2018). Nunes, T., Barros, R., Evangelou, M., Strand, S., Mathers, S., & Sanders-Ellis, D. . London: Education Endowment Foundation
Tutor Trust: Affordable Primary Tuition. (2018). Torgerson, C. J., Bell, K., Coleman, E., Elliott, L., Fairhurst, C., Gascoine, L., Hewitt, C.E., & Torgerson, D. J. . London: Education Endowment Foundation. https://dro.dur.ac.uk/26952/1/26952.pdf
Multisyllabic word-reading instruction with and without motivational beliefs training for struggling readers in the upper elementary grades: A pilot investigation the elementary school journal. (2017). Toste, J. R., Capin, P., Vaughn, S., Roberts, G. J., & Kearns, D. M.. Learning Disability Quarterly. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-23302-004
Multisyllabic word-reading instruction with and without motivational beliefs training for struggling readers in the upper elementary grades: A pilot investigation. (2017). Toste, J. R., Capin, P., Vaughn, S., Roberts, G. J., & Kearns, D. M.. The Elementary School Journal. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-23302-004
Leveraging Volunteers: An Experimental Evaluation of a Tutoring Program for Struggling Readers. (2016). Jacob, R., Armstrong, C., Bowden, A. B., & Pan, Y.. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 9(1), 67–92. https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2016.1138560
Effectiveness of a group-based academic tutoring program for children in foster care: A randomized controlled trial. (2016). Harper, J., & Schmidt, F.. Children and Youth Services Review, 67(C), 238–246. https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v67y2016icp238-246.html
Effects of tutorial interventions in mathematics and attention for low-performing preschool children. (2016). Barnes, M. A., Klein, A., Swank, P., Starkey, P., McCandliss, B., Flynn, K., ... & Roberts, G.. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1115262.pdf
Affordable Online Maths Tuition. (2016). Torgerson, C., Ainsworth, H., Buckley, H., Hampden-Thompson, G., Hewitt, C., Humphry, D., Jefferson, L., Mitchell, N., & Torgerson, D.. London: Education Endowment Foundation. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED581116.pdf
The influence of mathematics vocabulary instruction embedded within addition tutoring for first-grade students with mathematics difficulty. (2015). Powell, S. R., & Driver, M. K.. Learning Disability Quarterly. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0731948714564574
The effect of tutoring with nonstandard equations for students with mathematics difficulty. (2015). Powell, S. R., Driver, M. K., & Julian, T. E.. Journal of Learning Disabilities. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-36636-006
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
Effects of data-based instruction for students with intensive early writing needs: A randomized control trial. (2015). Jung, P. G.. https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/174862
Examining the efficacy of Burst:Reading literacy intervention . (2015). Pappas, S., York, A., Wang, Y., & Richards, K.. https://charts.intensiveintervention.org/intervention/toolGRP/b72b5683944c3bf5