Olson Elementary Achieves Significant Growth in Reading by Customizing Tutoring to Student Learning Goals
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) Marina, Calif.
Challenges
Students needed additional 1:1 reading support, particularly post-pandemic.
There was not enough staff to reach students with 1:1 support.
>60% of students are economically disadvantaged.
Looking at students’ needs, especially coming out of COVID, we thought high-dosage 1:1 tutoring in reading could be beneficial,” said Coleman. “However, one challenge here—and in school districts across the country—is staffing. It’s been very challenging to recruit and retain high-quality staff to serve a large number of kids.
Results
Improvements
Students who participated in the Littera tutoring, as compared to other programs, made the most growth.
Students reported feeling empowered and more confident about their learning.
They served more students and at a much higher quality than ever before—at no cost to families.
Grades
TK-6
Students
375
Free/reduced lunch access
62.2%
English language learners
21.1%
Students with disabilities
16.4%
Students experiencing homelessness
9.3%
Hispanic or Latino
48.3%
White
24.8%
Asian
8.7%
Filipino
5.6%
Black or African American
5%
Two or more races
4.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
2.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native
0.9%
Olson Elementary Achieves Significant Growth in Reading by Customizing Tutoring to Student Learning Goals
At Olson Elementary, a Title I school on California’s central coast, Principal Drew Coleman strives to provide exceptional student experiences that support shared values and beliefs. “One of our beliefs is that literacy is a gateway to improve self and society. That’s part of our identity here at Olson,” he said.
Olson Elementary enrolls 375 students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade. More than 60% of students are socioeconomically disadvantaged.
“Looking at students’ needs, especially coming out of COVID, we thought high-dosage 1:1 tutoring in reading could be beneficial,” said Coleman. “However, one challenge here—and in school districts across the country—is staffing. It’s been very challenging to recruit and retain high-quality staff to serve a large number of kids.”
In fall 2021, Olson Elementary partnered with Littera Education to provide 1:1 high-impact tutoring in reading. “With Littera, we’re able to serve more students and at a much higher quality than ever before,” said Coleman. “We can schedule 25 students with 25 tutors—all at the same time or at different times. We would never be able to replicate that on our own, and the quality of the Littera tutors is second to none.”
The Littera Tutoring Management System (TMS) makes it easy to provide large-scale tutoring to many students at once. It reduces the work involved in program management through automated scheduling, tutor-student matching, and program reporting.
We can schedule 25 students with 25 tutors—all at the same time or at different times. We would never be able to replicate that on our own, and the quality of the Littera tutors is second to none.
Implementing tutoring that follows evidence-based practices
After analyzing data from multiple measures during the fall, Olson Elementary selected several students in grades 3-6 to participate in tutoring during and after school. It began using the Littera Tutoring Management System, a reading tutoring curriculum, and Littera tutors in January 2022.
“The research is clear about the effectiveness of high-dosage tutoring, but it has to be implemented correctly—with a high-quality curriculum, high-quality tutors, frequency, and consistency,” said Coleman. “With Littera, we’re able to do that and provide kids with the support they need to get back on track to be at grade level.”
The reading tutoring curriculum (Teachers College Reading and Writing Project), chosen by the school and delivered by Littera tutors, was delivered three to five times a week. It encompasses foundational reading, phonics skills, vocabulary, and fluency, as well as fiction and nonfiction comprehension.
“It’s the same as the reading curriculum we utilize every day, so it’s a seamless transition for our students,” said Coleman.
200%
6th Grade Reading Growth
400
# of Students Reached
Making the most growth schoolwide—in less than half the time
In May 2022, school leaders again analyzed data to compare the progress of students who had the tutoring to those who did not.
“Of all of the programs we provided across our school, the students who participated in the Littera tutoring made the most growth—and they only participated for about 40% of the school year,” said Coleman. “Our sixth graders made 200% growth, which was more than any other group. We accelerated their learning and put them on track to be at grade level as they move on to middle school, which is exciting.”
Focusing on relationships first between tutors and students
“Littera gives us the flexibility to personalize each student’s experience,” said Coleman. “We have a very diverse school. To have a tutor who looks like you or has similar life experiences or interests makes a difference in the overall experience for each child.”
To build rapport between tutors and students, Littera pairs students with the same caring adult via live audio/video. “The Littera tutors get to know the kids and build relationships. There’s consistency. Students enjoy that. After their first few sessions, several students said to me, ‘Thank you for the tutor in reading. Can I get one for math?’ That told me the tutoring was a positive experience. Students could see the progress they were making. They felt more confident and empowered about their learning,” said Coleman.
Students’ families appreciate the program, too. “As a parent, I understand how expensive it can be to provide 1:1 tutoring for your child,” he said. “For our school to be able to provide top-quality 1:1 tutoring is something our families are very thankful for.”
Littera provides a very efficient platform. We get great analytics—from attendance to tutor feedback about each session. Having this information easily accessible takes a major burden off the classroom teacher, which is critical in this day and age.
Providing equitable instruction to high-priority students
“In MPUSD, we have a commitment to equity and it is a high priority here at Olson,” said Coleman. “Through our partnership with Littera, we’re able to give students what they need to be successful.”
Each component of every lesson happens within the Littera TMS: the integrated curriculum, the instruction in the virtual classroom, and the feedback from the tutors. In addition, the TMS provides data and reporting to monitor progress. “Littera provides a very efficient platform,” said Coleman. “We get great analytics—from attendance to tutor feedback about each session. Having this information easily accessible takes a major burden off the classroom teacher, which is critical in this day and age.”
Focusing on reading comprehension
Partnering with Littera, Olson Elementary is able to customize high-impact tutoring designs to learning goals that are unique to individual students and grade levels. For the 2022-23 school year, the school plans to deliver 1:1 high-impact tutoring to students in grades 4-6 after school for 45 minutes a day, four days a week.
“We already have an acceleration system in place to support foundational literacy skills, so this year we’re going to focus on reading comprehension,” said Coleman. “Adding an extra 45 minutes onto the learning experience will be a win-win for students. They will get to experience everything during the school day and have an additional positive learning experience after school. Then once the data shows a student is on track and doesn’t need the extra 1:1 support, we can offer that spot to a new student and get them to grade level.”
I just can’t say enough about the high-quality experience our partnership with Littera brings—and our data proves it. We’re providing a world-class experience for our students and we’re excited for the future.
Providing a world-class experience
“It was clear from our first conversation with Littera that they were going to provide exceptional service to our kids and the community here,” said Coleman. “Having a team that’s supportive and responsive is very beneficial. Relationships matter. Program quality matters. I just can’t say enough about the high-quality experience our partnership with Littera brings—and our data proves it. We’re providing a world-class experience for our students and we’re excited for the future.”