A low murmur filled a classroom at Orchard Knob Elementary as third grade students clad in headphones read books aloud or worked on literacy exercises displayed on their computer screen.
On the other side of the video call was a tutor — largely college students from out of state — who provided interventions based on that student’s needs.
The tutoring is run by Teach for America, a national nonprofit that recruits and trains teachers for high-need schools.
The program, which has been in Hamilton County for the past three years, provides high-dosage tutoring virtually. This year, it will serve over 200 local students across five elementary schools, said David Baird, the senior managing director of development at Teach for America.
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Virtual tutoring program provides Hamilton County elementary students with literacy support
Research shows, Baird said, that tutoring is most effective when it’s delivered at least three times a week for 30 minutes.