Overview

• Chicago Public Schools issued layoff notices to 530 tutors, ending their employment on May 30, two weeks before the school year concludes.
• The Tutor Corps, launched in 2021 with $25 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds, was credited with helping improve elementary reading scores post-pandemic.
• CPS is reducing the program’s budget to $10 million and will now focus on providing math tutoring for grades 6-8 in 55 schools, down from over 200 schools this year.
• Emerging research suggests the expanded tutoring model did not achieve the anticipated academic gains, with significant variation in tutoring frequency across schools.
• The district plans to continue other post-pandemic supports, including additional interventionist teachers, while assisting displaced tutors during their transition.