CityTutor DC

CityTutor DC catalyzes high-impact tutoring and strategic staffing models to serve thousands of students. Our work improves student well-being, accelerates academic performance, and enhances flexible staffing systems in schools. We are DC’s trusted partner in citywide initiatives related to tutoring, talent, and truancy reduction. CityTutor DC supports 100+ schools, tutoring providers, local universities, community-based organizations, and government stakeholders to improve outcomes for DC’s most vulnerable students and communities. CityTutor DC recruits, trains, and coaches partners citywide to launch and expand high-impact tutoring (HIT) programs and implement strategic staffing models.

CityTutor DC was originally incubated by CityBridge Education, a renowned incubator for equity-driven innovation in DC's public schools which, over many years, supported and helped launch scores of successful education entrepreneurs, schools, and ventures, largely led by leaders of color. In June 2024, fueled by its success and continued demand, CityTutor DC (CTDC) launched as an independent nonprofit. Armed with CityBridge Education's institutional knowledge, research, relationships, and infrastructure, as well as sustained champions among the city’s education leadership and funders, CTDC is working to make DC a public education system co-designed to serve and empower all students.

High-impact tutoring (HIT), sometimes referred to as “high-dosage tutoring,” is a research-based intervention proven to substantially accelerate academic progress and improve student well-being. In a small group or one-on-one setting, a trained tutor and student meet frequently and consistently to develop their skills and deepen their understanding in either math or ELA. CityTutor DC’s tutoring work is driven by national standards and aligned to the growing body of research supporting HIT as a proven and effective academic intervention. With DC’s significant investment in HIT as a pandemic recovery strategy, the quality and availability of tutoring services have expanded significantly since 2021. Robust research suggests that tutored students are more likely to achieve growth goals on nationally normed assessments and attend school at higher rates. We envision a future where every student in every school has access to HIT as a resource to build stronger, brighter futures.

Strategic Staffing is the work of redesigning current systems—school budgets, schedules, curriculum, space, and other resources–to reimagine the teaching role. CityTutor DC’s talent work aligns with a growing body of national research suggesting that critical shifts must be made to implement flexible schedules, build more robust instructional teams, and solidify stronger pathways into the teacher profession. With these talent shifts, the role of a teacher is both more sustainable and more attractive. Strategic Staffing initiatives shift the traditional paradigm of teaching from the “one-classroom, one-teacher” model to a team-based approach.

Under Strategic Staffing initiatives, teachers share instructional responsibility across a team of educators and adults; have increased autonomy and decision-making power; can concentrate on the aspects of instruction and social-emotional development where they are strongest; and experience workday flexibility. With these shifts, DC’s most critical resource–our educators–have the time, expertise, and support to make transformative and lasting change in the lives of their students.