High-Dosage Tutoring: Solving the Implementation Puzzle

Despite widespread recognition of its effectiveness, high-dosage tutoring remains difficult for schools to implement at scale. An August 2025 article from The Hechinger Report highlights that schools are still struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels of tutoring support, even though research shows that students who received tutoring at least three times per week gained an extra year’s worth of learning. 

So, what’s holding schools back from doing what works? 

The Logistics Barrier

Monica Bhatt, researcher at the University of Chicago Education Lab and co-author of The Hechinger Report article, points to time and logistics as major obstacles. “The problem is the logistics of getting it delivered,” Bhatt said. Effective high-dosage tutoring requires significant changes to bell schedules, classroom space, and staffing. 

A 2024 Education Week study found that nearly 40% of schools couldn’t find enough time in the school day to support high-dosage tutoring 

This is especially challenging for elementary schools, where flexible time blocks are rare. 

Online tutoring offers a solution. With virtual platforms, students can receive tutoring anywhere with a quiet space, a device, and internet access. Study halls, library periods, or even after-school slots can become tutoring opportunities without disrupting core instruction. 

Lincoln Learning’s high-dosage tutoring model, for example, offers 30-minute sessions three times per week, all conducted online via the Pencil Spaces platform. This setup includes video conferencing, screen sharing, and an interactive whiteboard that both tutor and student can use collaboratively.

Staffing and Training Challenges

Teacher shortages and budget constraints make hiring and training tutors a daunting task. Yet, research shows  that in-school tutoring by certified educators or paraprofessionals yields stronger academic gains than after-school or volunteer-led programs. 

Online tutoring helps schools bypass these staffing hurdles. Lincoln Learning’s program connects students with certified teachers who collaborate with school staff to set academic goals, monitor progress, and provide detailed updates every four weeks. 

This model reduces the burden on existing staff while maintaining instructional quality. 

Scalability and Student Ratios

High-dosage tutoring is most effective when delivered:

• In 1:1 or small group formats
• By trained educators
• For 30 minutes, at least three times per week
• Using evidence-based curriculum

But scaling this model is tough. A third of schools say they lack the capacity to provide high-dosage tutoring to all students who need it, and nearly 20% say even regular tutoring is difficult to sustain. 

Online tutoring can help districts scale without sacrificing quality. Lincoln Learning guarantees 1:1 tutoring, with students meeting the same teacher each week to build rapport and continuity. Sessions are recorded, and whiteboard notes are saved for later review, giving students access to learning materials anytime they need support. 

Funding and Sustainability

Funding is a persistent concern. While federal pandemic recovery funds helped launch many tutoring programs, sustaining them is another story. Fortunately, nonprofit education providers like Lincoln Learning offer implementation support and funding guidance. 

Lincoln Learning’s team helps districts identify and apply for federal and state resources, ensuring long-term viability.

To explore online options for high-dosage tutoring, contact Lincoln Learning Solutions for a consultation.