Liz Cohen | The Future of Tutoring - Show Notes
The Education Equation: Live with Liz Cohen on The Future of Tutoring
In this special episode, The Education Equation hosts its first-ever live taping in New York City with author and Vice President of Policy at 50CAN, Liz Cohen as part of the College Board Forum 2025. Liz is a recognized expert with nearly two decades of experience as an analyst and advisor in the K-12 education space. She joins Jeremy Singer to discuss her new book, The Future of Tutoring: Lessons from 10,000 School District Tutoring Initiatives, which provides a research-based examination of tutoring models and their impact on learning.
The conversation captures the energy of the live, engaged audience as Cohen makes a convincing argument: tutoring is one of the few interventions with clear evidence of improving educational outcomes. We delve into how the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying ESSER funds created a "unique opportunity" for research and scaling tutoring, which Cohen calls an "accidental experiment.” By May 2023, 80% of U.S. school districts reported offering some form of tutoring.
Cohen shares recent data, including results from Washington D.C. and Guilford County, North Carolina, showing significant academic gains, and addresses the historical context of tutoring, including its failure to scale in the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act era.
Key Takeaways
- Defining High-Impact Tutoring (HIT): Cohen outlines the core elements proven to be effective: at least three times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes, a student-to-adult ratio of no more than 4:1 (ideal), and the use of a consistent tutor.
- Virtual vs. In-Person: The data shows that the modality of tutoring—virtual or in-person—does not significantly impact outcomes. Virtual tutoring opens doors for increased access and flexibility.
- The Power of Embedding and Alignment: Integrating tutoring into the regular school day, often through a dedicated intervention block, is key to success and reducing student stigma. Alignment with core curriculum is also crucial to a clear strategy.
- AI’s Role: Cohen is bullish on AI's potential to reduce costs and enhance human tutoring, for instance, by creating "AI tutor coaches" that provide instant guidance and take out the "learning curve" for new tutors.
- Navigating Cost and Scale: The discussion addresses the challenge of sustaining costly HIT programs after ESSER funds expire, exploring solutions like outcomes-based contracts and increased efficiency.
Why You Should Listen
Liz Cohen’s insights serve as a blueprint for education leaders seeking to implement proven, scalable interventions. Hear her argument that the successful adoption and scaling of tutoring shows that the education system can embrace big, hard changes. The episode concludes with thoughtful questions from educators in the live audience on tutor preparation, combating stigma, and measuring the return on investment of tutoring by reducing future remediation costs.
Liz’s education book recommendation: The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School by Neil Postman
Like, follow, and share The Education Equation with Jeremy Singer wherever you get your podcasts.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:18 Welcome to the Education Equation
01:36 Meet Liz Cohen
03:18 The Impact of COVID on Education
06:11 The History and Evolution of Tutoring
13:09 High Impact Tutoring Defined
14:05 The Truth-O-Meter: Evaluating Tutoring Methods
19:07 Success Stories and Data Insights
20:04 Embedding Tutoring in School Schedules
23:23 Teacher and School Reception to Tutoring
25:31 Teacher Autonomy in Tutoring Programs
26:13 Challenges and Costs of Tutoring
26:40 Strategies to Reduce Tutoring Costs
27:17 Evaluating Tutoring Programs
27:53 Innovations in Tutoring Efficiency
28:50 System-Wide Educational Approaches
29:37 Performance-Based Tutoring Contracts
31:43 The Role of AI in Tutoring
35:02 Scaling Advanced Placement Programs
37:47 Rapid Fire Questions and Audience Q&A