On this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer welcomes Liz Cohen, Vice President of Policy at 50CAN and author of the new book, The Future of Tutoring: Lessons from 10,000 School District Tutoring Initiatives.

We explore the massive, rapid mobilization of tutoring efforts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated learning disruptions. We look at the key components of effective high-impact tutoring—small groups, consistent adults, and regularly scheduled in the school day—and how the strong evidence base has galvanized educators and advocates toward a unified solution. Liz shares her "constellation" metaphor, distinguishing between "bright stars" (districts deeply committed to sustained funding and implementation) and those still struggling with scale, funding, and strategy.

Beyond the academic gains, we discuss the powerful role of tutoring as a catalyst for human connection and a potential pipeline for new educators. We also debate the future scenarios for tutoring, including the role of AI tools, outcomes-based contracting for responsible spending, and how this moment of change proves the public education system is capable of renovation.

Key Takeaways:

The High-Impact Tutoring Surge: About 80% of U.S. school districts launched some form of tutoring post-pandemic, with two-thirds aiming for high-impact models: small groups, in-school, at least three times a week, and led by a consistent adult.

A Unified Solution: The convergence of a clear problem (learning disruption), evidence-based research (like the Saga program's impact on Algebra I scores), and massive federal funding created a rare moment of unity in education reform.

More Than Academics: The success of tutoring is deeply rooted in human relationships; it helps young people feel they "matter," building motivation through demonstrated competence and productive struggle in a high-support, high-standards environment.

The Future Workforce Pipeline: Tutoring roles, especially those engaging college students and young adults, are proving to be effective on-ramps into the teaching profession.

The Funding Cliffhanger: With one-time federal funding largely spent, the future depends on districts embedding tutoring into their core strategy and utilizing tools like outcomes-based contracting to ensure they only pay for measurable results.

Why You Should Listen:

If you are a district leader, educator, education advocate, or parent, this episode offers a clear-eyed view of what the most successful districts are doing to accelerate learning and how they are planning to sustain those efforts. You will gain an understanding of how to leverage research-backed practices, why buy-in from principals and teachers is critical, and the innovative ways technology can support—but not replace—the essential human element of tutoring. Liz Cohen provides the framework for turning a pandemic response into a lasting positive change for the American education system.

Subscribe to Trending in Education and follow us wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a conversation like this one.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:08 Liz Cohen's Background and Professional Journey

01:59 The Evolution of Tutoring During COVID-19

04:18 The Impact of Federal Funding on Tutoring

09:03 Challenges and Successes in Implementing Tutoring Programs

11:51 The Future of Tutoring and Education

20:16 Motivation and the Science of Learning

22:53 Challenges and Choices in Education Funding

24:07 Parent Empowerment and School Strategies

24:39 State-Level Overhauls and Tutoring Initiatives

32:59 The Role of Technology in Tutoring

36:39 Outcome-Based Contracting in Education

39:11 Broader Educational Takeaways and Final Thoughts