Children hit hardest by the pandemic are now the big kids at school. Many still need reading help

A 2020 paper from the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), evaluating 96 randomised control trials, found that high-impact tutoring can achieve significant positive outcomes in math and reading comprehension. The paper is among the body of evidence that has supported the implementation of tutoring programmes across the country in the recovery of the pandemic.

Students across the United States suffered learning setbacks, particularly in reading and math, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal pandemic relief money enabled schools systems to bring in tutors, add class time, and train teachers in phonics instruction to mitigate reading proficiency setbacks. However, the Northwest Evaluation Association estimates an additional 4.1 months of instruction would be required to bring students to pre-pandemic reading levels nationally. With federal pandemic relief money set to run out soon, school systems look to continue applying the most effective methods of recovering students' abilities.

Many schools across the country make use of high-impact tutoring as an effective intervention for math and reading proficiency.