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The State of Tutoring

Spotlight On Evidence: The State of Tutoring

In our interview series, “Spotlight On,” Innovative Schools portfolio manager Pete Lavorini sits down with research and impact officer Meghan McCormick. Together, they discuss the current evidence base on the potential of high-impact tutoring to support student achievement and what school and district leaders need to know as they consider tutoring investments ahead of the new school year.

Spotlight on Evidence: Investing in Innovative Tutoring Approaches To Boost Student Achievement

Research points to the potential value of high-impact tutoring for supporting learning recovery at scale, but key challenges remain. Meghan McCormick examines the current body of evidence on the impact of hybrid, virtual, and AI-fueled tutoring models, and how these models are poised to reduce costs, strengthen the tutoring workforce, and more effectively allocate tutoring supports.

Perspectives: Generative Artificial Intelligence May Help Teachers. Does It Work for Students?

Teachers and students are increasingly experimenting with generative AI tools, both in and out of the classroom. But, rapid changes in technology and the speed of adoption are far outpacing the field’s understanding of impacts on teaching and learning. Meghan McCormick examines what we know about the impact of genAI on education, calling for rigorous, evidence-based evaluation of what’s being used in schools.

2023 Bright Spots: Unlocking Innovation

Here, we highlight stories of how our funding helped "Cyberchase," Khan Academy, Science Buddies, and Tools of the Mind unlock innovation—developing and launching new approaches, interventions, or models that address unmet needs.

Register Now: Overdeck Family Foundation’s 2023 in Review

Join us on Wednesday, January 31 from 1-2:30 p.m. ET for a special panel conversation to celebrate the launch of Overdeck Family Foundation’s 2023 Grantmaking & Impact Report. Leaders from 12 nonprofits across our portfolios will share how their organizations unlocked innovation, evidence-building, and growth this past year.

Q3 2023 Funding Announcement

In Q3 2023, our foundation awarded 46 grants totaling over $19 million. Of these, two were to organizations new to our foundation, eight were renewals, 16 were disbursements for ongoing pledges, and 20 covered additional grantee supports, membership fees, and convenings. Here, we highlight just some of the organizations we’re proud to support in the third quarter.

Students working on laptops

Perspectives: As Technology Use Explodes in Classrooms, Philanthropy Must Help Ensure All Students Benefit

Technology has the potential to play a significant role in improving engagement with families, assessing student progress, and providing personalized learning solutions. But to have a real impact, edtech tools need to be evaluated and refined before they're made available at scale. John Overdeck, President of Overdeck Family Foundation, points to the need for philanthropic investment in new innovations and ongoing evidence-building to ensure these solutions improve learning for all students.

girl in yellow shirt raises her hand

2022 Bright Spots: Unlocking Innovation

In this blog post, we highlight stories of how Overdeck Family Foundation funding has helped CommonLit, Khan Academy, and LENA unlock innovation—developing and launching new approaches, interventions, or models that address unmet needs.

Students work together at a table in a classroom.

2022 End-of-Year Research Update

Overdeck Family Foundation is committed to promoting transparent research practices by lifting up timely findings. Here we share the results of seven grantee research studies that concluded at the end of this year.

Child stands holding tablet with parent

Perspectives: Why Digital STEM Initiatives Are a Critical Investment Right Now

As was the case pre-Covid, many students continue to score below proficient in STEM subjects, with low-income, Black, and Hispanic students on average far behind where they would have been if not for Covid-related learning disruptions. Gemma Lenowitz calls for investment in affordable and scalable digital solutions that can help close this widening gap by engaging students in STEM learning beyond the classroom.