Learn about our staff’s role in transforming policy with evidence, from research generation to program scale-up
Research Generation > Research Synthesis > Evidence Dissemination > Evidence Use > Scale-up Support > Future Evidence
2014-2019: Key Research Generation
J-PAL North America worked with Saga Education to evaluate their individualized, intensive tutoring program, marking the beginning of a long-standing partnership.
Evaluation in Chicago Public Schools
With the support of J-PAL North America funding, J-PAL affiliates and co-authors partnered with Chicago Public Schools to study the impact of individualized math tutoring.
The evaluation found profound effects on young men’s academic achievement. Students in Saga learned an extra one to two years’ worth of math beyond what their peers learned in an academic year.
From evidence to investment
Evidence on Saga’s impact helped catalyze expansion to other major urban areas and secure philanthropic funding.
2019-2020: Research Synthesis
J-PAL North America produced research and identified policy lessons key to helping students across the country who perfrom behind grade level
Development of a meta-analysis on tutoring
J-PAL staff and education sector co-chair Philip Oreopolous synthesized 96 randomized evaluations, including the evaluation of Saga’s model, finding that tutoring leads to meaningful learning outcomes for students across a wide range of program characteristics.
Summary of the evidence
J-PAL staff summarized key results of the meta-analysis in an evidence review, identifying key lessons for a policy audience.
These lessons included employing paraprofessionals and teachers as tutors, intervening in earlier grades, and conducting tutoring during the day.
2020-2021: Evidence Dissemination
Staff shared the evidence review with key audiences to guide investment towards effective tutoring interventions.
Activities included:
- Directly engaging policymakers, such as education officials at the California Governor's Office
- Sharing across J-PAL North America platforms, including on social media and in newsletters
- Conducting targeted outreach to education groups, Departments of Education, peer research groups, and other key audiences
- Reaching wider audiences through coverage in outlets such as The New York Times, The Hill, and Scientific American
2020-2021: Evidence Use
J-PAL’s research was leveraged by policymakers at the state and federal level to fund and scale evidence-based tutoring practices, which have the potential to accelerate learning for millions.
California Assembly Bill 86
Informed by the conversation between J-PAL and the California Governor's office, this bill allocated $460 million to hiring paraprofessional tutors.
AB 86 has the potential to benefit California’s six million public school students.
Adoption by Local Education Agencies
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) adopted plans for how to utilize new federal and state funds, many of which included developing high-impact tutoring programs.
California recently began allocating funds to LEAs across the state, and schools are starting to implement their plans.
Colorado Supplemental Education High-impact Tutoring Programs Bill
The Governor of Colorado signed a bill creating the Colorado High-impact Tutoring Program, which will provide US$5 million in grant funding to local education providers for tutoring. The bill’s authors drew from J-PAL’s evidence review.
Federal Call to Action
In July 2022, citing the 2020 meta-analysis, the Biden-Harris Administration called on schools across the country to expand high-quality tutoring programs, using funds from the American Rescue Plan.
The new National Partnership for Student Success will provide resources—including J-PAL’s video about Saga Education and J-PAL North America’s Evidence Review—to organizations and schools that want to administer academic tutoring.
2022 - Present : Scale-up Support
Districts across the country are implementing high-impact tutoring guided by evidence from and supported by J-PAL North America.
Partnership with New Mexico Public Education Department and Saga Education
J-PAL North America is working with partners in New Mexico to implement, monitor, and scale tutoring across the state by providing technical expertise, conducting webinars, and developing monitoring tools.
Partnership with the the State Board of Education and California Collaborative for Educational Excellence
In California, J-PAL North America, the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE), and the State Board of Education formed a relationship centered on helping counties understand and utilize evidence to develop impactful programs.
J-PAL staff presented on research findings in webinars with different education stakeholders, including the California After school Network and CALVolunteers, shared evidence with key state officials, and created a learning path made up of asynchronous video presentations, activities, and resources
Future: Further Evidence
J-PAL North America is currently fundraising to generate a new generation of tutoring evidence to reach more students, particularly those in remote or rural areas.
Ongoing studies are evaluating strategies such as after-school programs, computer-assisted learning, and more.
Funding for staff time is crucial to ensuring this evidence is leveraged into innovative policies to accelerate learning.
For more information, please reach out to J-PAL North America's Associate Director of Policy Kim Dadisman.