It’s clear that our public education system should leverage the talents of high-achieving high school students to support underperforming elementary populations, especially considering the critical academic milestones in grades 3 and 4 and their impact on the trajectory of academic aptitude. With the growing focus on sustainable, high-impact tutoring programs, the National Honor Society has the unique potential to be part of the high-impact tutoring solution. I am proposing an initiative to engage NHS advisors and NHS high schoolers interested in piloting a virtual high-impact tutoring program to support Ypsilanti elementary students affected by Michigan’s Read by Grade Three Law.
The virtual tutoring sessions could be hosted by Learn To Be (LTB), a 501c3 non-profit organization and platform, where virtual 1-on-1 tutoring for underserved students throughout the United States has been free since 2008. The Learn To Be website hosts, records, and logs virtual tutoring sessions, while Slack allows LTB staff and tutors to communicate.
If you know your NHS chapter has high schoolers eager to make a difference through tutoring, I encourage your NHS chapter to start a Learn To Be chapter. You can do so here: Start A Learn To Be Chapter
An Exciting Initiative in Washtenaw County
This summer, I had the opportunity to follow the Results for America and National Student Support Accelerator Summer Sprint. The goal? Helping districts implement sustainable, high-impact tutoring programs that make a difference in the classroom.
I was in the NHS at my high school and I’m an active volunteer at Learn To Be. Currently, I am focused on an initiative in Washtenaw County aimed at supporting the Ypsilanti community—an underserved area where educational disparities are deeply felt. If this project succeeds, I believe it could serve as a model for districts across Michigan.
You can find the slides I used to present this initiative to local stakeholders, including the Washtenaw County ISD, Ypsilanti school board, Eastern Michigan University’s College of Education, Michelle Richard (former senior education advisor to Governor Whitmer), and the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation here: National Honor Society Virtual Tutors of Michigan
National Honor Society Virtual Tutors: Making a Difference
NHS virtual tutors can play a vital role in supporting underserved communities, such as Ypsilanti’s elementary schools.
Here’s why this program is so critical:
- Opt-in tutoring programs often miss the mark, leaving behind the students who need the most help. I envision NHS virtual tutors providing high-impact tutoring from their high school’s homeroom period, while elementary students receive real-time academic support in their classrooms. Utilizing MAP Growth data, tutoring could complement teachers’ plans for small-group and whole-class instruction.
- NWEA Performance data highlights the dire need for intervention: In Spring 2023, over 80% of 3rd graders in Ypsilanti Community Schools were reading below grade level. NHS virtual tutors could play a vital role in helping these students meet grade-level content standards in HMH/NWEA curriculum.
Michigan’s Read by Grade Three Law
Michigan’s Read by Grade Three Law, which was passed in 2016 and later revoked during COVID, was significant for 3rd and 4th graders, as these are the grades when students are expected to ‘read to learn’ rather than ‘learn to read.’ The law was repealed because it resulted in too many third graders held back from entering fourth grade, which some argued was discriminatory, as it disproportionately impacted low-income and non-white students. Additionally, a fourth grader’s reading proficiency can often predict their future academic success, and students who are held back a grade are more likely to drop out and face other personal challenges.
Connecting with Local Colleges of Education
By partnering with local colleges of education, we could establish a tutor orientation and training program for NHS high schoolers. This would not only prepare high schoolers for their tutoring roles but could also spark an interest in teaching careers. There’s even potential to offer scholarships, minimum wage, high school and college credits, all of which could incentivize more high-achieving students to pursue careers in education.
For more details regarding potential, theoretical, and practical conception of this, please refer to Arizona State University’s Tutoring Credential and Deans for Impact materials (click the links to view the resources). Deans for Impact has a resource/tool for mobilizing future teachers as tutors.
Why This Matters: Real-Life Success Stories
Here’s what some Michigan high schoolers have to say about their experience tutoring with Learn To Be:
“For the past three years, I’ve been tutoring a student in math through Learn To Be, and I absolutely love it! Watching him progress has been nothing short of inspirational. I hope that Learn To Be can expand so other people can discover the joys of tutoring!” – Arita, 12th grader, Novi HS, Novi, MI
“Tutoring with Learn To Be has been an eye opening and enriching experience. Through Learn To Be, I have been able to understand how people think and understand differently from me and how to adapt to these situations. I believe every child deserves an equal opportunity to learn and Learn To Be puts kids on an even playing field with kids who might be able to afford tutors or the genius kids in the classroom.” – Chikanma, 11th grader, H.H. Dow HS, Midland, MI
Conclusion
There is a lot of work to be done in closing the educational equity gap in Michigan, and it’s critical that we act soon. Compared to the rest of the United States, Michigan dropped from 32nd in 2019 to 43rd in fourth-grade reading scores on the 2022 National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP). The graph below shows Michigan’s Statewide 3rd Grade Reading Proficiency Rates by Subgroup based on the 2022 M-STEP assessment. Proficiency, in this case, is measured as the percentage of students who are reading at or above grade level.
By working together, we can create a sustainable, meaningful high-impact tutoring program that addresses educational inequity and empowers the next generation of educators. We can help improve schools’ climates and provide mentorship. Together, we can help Michigan’s elementary students meet grade-level content standards in the classroom AND we can help increase proficiency rates on annual assessments.
How You Can Get Involved
If you know your NHS chapter has high schoolers eager to make a difference through tutoring, I encourage your NHS chapter to start a Learn To Be chapter. You can do so here: Start A Learn To Be Chapter
For inquiries, you can reach Keri Ann via email at knewton5@emich.edu
About the Author: Born in Ypsilanti, MI and raised in Ann Arbor, MI, Keri Ann graduated summa cum laude from Eastern Michigan University in 2021. Her individualized study program focused on three areas: Curriculum and Technology for Mathematics Education, Physical and Life Science, and Literacy for Elementary Education. Since 2021, Keri Ann has been an active volunteer virtual tutor with Learn To Be.
References
Ypsilanti Community Schools. (n.d.). Ypsilanti Community Schools MI kids back on track plan (p. 5). https://www.ycschools.us/downloads/transparency_reporting/ycs_mi_kids_back_on_track_plan_23g_mi_2.pdf
GreatSchools. (n.d.). Holmes Elementary Learning Center. GreatSchools. https://www.greatschools.org/michigan/ypsilanti/3730-Holmes-Elementary-Learning-Center/
Gray, A. (2023, January 11). Report: Michigan stuck in bottom 10 states for 4th grade reading test scores. Michigan Advance. https://michiganadvance.com/2023/01/11/report-michigan-stuck-in-bottom-10-states-for-4th-grade-reading-test-scores/