Step Up Tutoring Reaches a Milestone: 200,000 Tutoring Hours
Step Up Tutoring is thrilled to announce a major milestone. We have delivered more than 200,000 hours of one-on-one tutoring to students across the country!
Over the past five years, Step Up has connected thousands of trained volunteer tutors and college students with elementary and middle school students, providing one-on-one high-impact virtual tutoring in math and literacy. This achievement reflects the dedication, consistency, and heart of our tutoring community — individuals who have collectively supported academic growth and confidence for students who need it most.
Five Years of Growth and Impact
Since our founding in partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District in 2020, Step Up Tutoring has grown from a pandemic-response into a nationally recognized leader in high-impact tutoring (HIT). Our model emphasizes the power of consistent, relationship-centered instruction, meeting each student where they are and helping them thrive academically and emotionally.
To date, our program has served:
Over 5,000 volunteer and Work-Study tutors, trained and supported through Step Up’s comprehensive onboarding and professional learning system
More than 6,000 elementary students, each receiving personalized tutoring aligned with their learning goals
200,000 total tutoring hours, delivered across five years through partnerships with school districts, higher education institutions, and community organizations
High-Impact Tutoring in Action
Step Up’s approach is grounded in the research-backed principles of high-impact tutoring — frequent, consistent, and personalized instruction aligned with classroom learning. Our tutors meet with their students virtually at least twice a week, building strong relationships that help boost both skills and confidence.
Evidence shows that this level of consistency is key to academic growth. When students work with the same tutor regularly, they’re more likely to master foundational concepts, engage in learning, and make measurable gains over time.
Since our founding in 2020, we’ve delivered 200,000 tutoring hours to more than 6,000 students, driving measurable academic growth (average gain of +22 percentile points in math), building confidence (86% of students report increased academic confidence), and fostering a sense of connection and belonging (97% believe their tutor cares about them). These results reflect a community-rooted approach that centers students, families, and schools in shaping how technology supports their learning journeys.
Tutor satisfaction: 92% of tutors said they were highly likely to recommend Step Up to a friend who was interested in tutoring (N=469). 94% said they were positively impacted by tutoring.
Parent satisfaction: 92% of families said they were likely to recommend Step Up to another parent (N=412). 81% of families said their students improved their grades in math/reading since starting tutoring (N=412). Comments from parents underscore this sentiment:
“My daughter was in danger of failing at the beginning of the school year and did not like the idea of attending tutoring after school but since I was able to enroll her into Step Up her grades improved along with her attitude towards tutoring. We both appreciate the time and dedication of her tutor who has been nothing but amazing to my daughter.”
“What I appreciate most about participating in Step Up Tutoring is the individual attention, genuine engagement, and valuable knowledge that the tutor brings to my child. It’s clear that the tutor truly cares and is committed to helping my child grow both academically and personally, which means a lot to our family.”
“We wouldn’t have been able to afford this kind of tutoring without Step Up. We are truly grateful.”
A Community Committed to Educational Equity
At the heart of this milestone is our tutor community: volunteers, college students, and Federal Work-Study participants who give their time, compassion, and energy to students nationwide. Their dedication ensures that every tutoring session—all 200,000 hours and counting—brings us closer to our vision of equitable access to high-quality academic support and caring mentorship.
This achievement also reflects the power of partnership. Schools, universities, and community organizations across the country have joined us in the belief that individualized learning can close opportunity gaps and open new pathways for student success.
Behind every tutoring hour is also a network of generous funders who share our commitment to transforming education through access, innovation, and human connection. We’re especially grateful to the Eli & Edythe Broad Foundation, Karsh Family Foundation, Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, Beth and Ravenel Curry Foundation, Joseph Drown Foundation, Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, Fox Family Foundation, Halper Family Foundation, Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities, NewSchools Venture Fund, R&S Kayne Foundation, Rose Hills Foundation, San Jose Public Library Foundation, and Sam Simon Foundation.
Together, we’re turning our dream of a national model for effective, affordable, and scalable tutoring that helps every child reach their full potential into a reality.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate this milestone, we’re also looking to the future. Step Up Tutoring continues to grow its impact through partnerships, innovation, and research-backed programming. Our next chapter will focus on expanding access to even more students — ensuring every child has the chance to learn, connect, and thrive.
Together with our partners, tutors, and supporters, we’re proving that when relationships and rigor meet, real learning happens.
