What You Need To Know

• The initiative comes after state assessments by the Ohio Department of Education reported a significant drop in student proficiency levels due to the pandemic's remote learning challenges


• The six tutoring vendors are: Amplify, Book Nook, Catapult Learning West, Cignition, Huntington Learning Centers and Varsity Tutors for Schools

• The vendors will receive the funds for the 2023-2024 school year

The six tutoring vendors that were chosen to take part in the initiative are: Cignition, Huntington Learning Centers, Catapult Learning West, Amplify, Book Nook, and Varsity Tutors for Schools.

The plan comes after state assessments by the Ohio Department of Education, which reported a significant drop in student proficiency levels because of the pandemic's remote learning challenges. State leaders are now working to cure the learning-gap. 

Kneena Levert, a lead tutor at the Huntington Learning Center in Columbus, identified the correlation between student confidence and academic success. She said it’s important to highlight the basic educational skills of students before moving the student forward in education. That’s why she believes tutoring is important for students at all grade levels to enhance their knowledge.    

"They're not going to move anywhere if they don't have confidence in what they're doing," Levert said.

Maureen Wagner is the owner of two Huntington Learning Centers, and a former teacher. Wagner emphasized the significant role individual attention plays in student success.

"We are going to build their confidence, those skills. That is where we can help educators," Wagner said, affirming that local schools were eager for this support.

The execution of how the tutoring program will operate is still under planning. Schools who are wishing to access these services must apply over the summer. Approved schools will then partner with one of the chosen agencies to strategize logistics, and allow parents to get a clearer picture of how their children can take part.

"We're seeing some really strong demand, which is exciting because we know that this strategy works for kids," Jana Fornario is the Executive Director of 'The Future Forward Ohio' Office stated.

Details on application to the program are available on the Department of Education's website.

"The High Dosage Tutoring Program aims to go beyond traditional after-school tutoring," said Alanna Phelan, Vice President of Tutoring Amplify. "Gov. Dewine has invested in high dosage tutoring, which is really different from online and homework help. Instead, this is a research-backed intervention that researchers have called one of the most potentially transformative tools available in education today to help students get back on track." 

The program is open to public, private and charter schools.This funding is separate from the $14 million previously allotted by the state to colleges and universities to aid K-12 students in math and literacy.