Early Literacy High-Dosage Tutoring

The Department has approved vendors to provide high dosage tutoring that is:

• Student-Centered: Using diagnostic data, tutoring partners create individualized and academic learning goals to determine instructional focus areas as well as progress monitoring to ensure that students are working on the right skills at the right time.
• Evidence-Based: Students are paired with trained tutors who are invested in their learning and use instructional approaches with a track record of success.
• Flexible: Depending on the content and tutoring program, there are in-person, hybrid, and virtual options during and after the school day for schools to choose from.

The Department will select districts and charter schools to receive early literacy tutoring, if appropriated, based on criteria including:

• Quality of the early literacy model in alignment with the statewide goals of this initiative
• Demonstrated need for ELA/Literacy support

The tutoring providers below are included in a Master Service Agreement (MSA) with DESE. Districts are required to follow written procurement procedures as well as all applicable state and federal procurement requirements when procuring services under this MSA. If you have any questions, please contact Elaine.Lian@mass.gov to obtain any documentation required by your district Business Office.

Providers offer K–3 tutoring at varying costs.

** Note on Ignite Reading: Tutoring costs are per "seat." Once a student finishes, a new student can fill the seat at no additional cost.

FY26 Tutoring Frequently Asked Questions

Application Questions:

• Should we submit early in case something is missing? Will we have a chance to resubmit?
  • We recommend taking your time and submitting only when your application is complete. Districts and charter networks are responsible for ensuring that their submission is complete.
• Will we receive a confirmation when we submit?
  • Yes. When you submit your application, the system will display an automated confirmation message within your web browser.
• Can you save the application as you work on it?
  • Yes, applications can be saved and then returned to at a later time to continue being worked on.
• I submitted by application in error. What should I do since it is not complete?
  • If you submitted an application in error, please reach out to LiteracyandHumanities@mass.gov to share this information, and we will make a note to discard the application.
• Can a school apply for additional tutoring even if they already receive tutoring through a district-wide grant?
  • Yes. Schools that already receive tutoring from another source may still apply for DESE-sponsored tutoring, as long as the request does not duplicate the services they already have. Schools should coordinate internally to ensure the application reflects unmet needs rather than overlapping supports.
• We are a small school. Can we apply? Is there a site minimum?
  • Yes! All public schools and charter schools that serve first graders are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. There are site minimums by tutoring vendor, but DESE will match schools to vendors based on preference, need, and site minimums.
• We have 8 elementary schools in our district with different levels of need and supports in place. Do all schools in a district need to participate?
  • Although DESE encourages all schools to participate, it is up to the individual district or charter network which schools to apply for. Individual schools should communicate with their district leadership to ensure coherence across a district or charter network.
• We have Grade 2–5 schools. We also have Pk–1 schools. Can schools without grade 1 participate? Can we apply for just grade 2 seats?
  • No. All applications must include grade 1 students. Districts and charter schools cannot apply for tutoring seats for grades 2–3 only.
• What are suggestions for a strong application?
  • Submit a clear, complete application. All fields must be fully filled out to be reviewed.
• We are participating in PRISM track 2 to select HQIM. Should we include this in our narrative response? We have a literacy vision also. Should we include or attach that?
  • Yes. You should reference any major literacy initiatives underway in your district (including curriculum work and your literacy vision) to show how tutoring fits within your broader literacy efforts. There is no need to attach additional documents.

Curriculum Questions:

• I saw the vendors listed on the grant page. Do you have to have that curriculum to apply?
  • No. You do not need to use the same curriculum as the tutoring vendors. Tutoring providers use their own evidence-based materials, and districts do not need to change their curriculum to participate.
• For districts that may not be in line with the DESE ELA curriculum requirements. Is it possible to apply while also implementing new curriculum? If not is there any plan to offer this again next year?
  • Districts at any stage of curriculum work, including those adopting or transitioning to new high-quality instructional materials, are eligible to apply. Tutoring is designed to supplement your Tier 1 instruction, regardless of where you are in your curriculum adoption process. Future rounds of tutoring will depend on available funding.
• If we just adopted WIN and STAR assessment and moving towards Science of Reading piloting will we be considered?
  • Yes. Eligibility for this opportunity is based on meeting the requirements outlined in the application.

Scheduling Tutoring

• If the tutoring is done during school will we be able to schedule it around WIN? (We have a set schedule by grade in each building)
  • The tutoring provider and the school will collaborate to determine scheduling based on tutor availability and school needs.

Staffing for Tutoring

• Will there be funding for stipends for school tutoring liaisons/champions?
  • Thanks for this important question. DESE does not provide separate funding directly to schools for stipends for tutoring liaisons or champions. However, some of the approved tutoring providers include a stipend for this role as part of their overall service model, which is funded through DESE. For example, in afterschool models, certain vendors may include a stipend for a school-based staff member to help coordinate logistics — like ensuring students arrive at tutoring locations or serving as a point of contact. Stipend availability and expectations vary by provider.
• Would one of our staff need to monitor the tutoring?
  • Tutoring providers include their own systems for monitoring instruction and student progress, so it is not expected that a school staff member would oversee tutoring itself. That said, there are some logistical roles that a school staff member may play depending on the tutoring model and schedule. We'll work closely with schools and vendors during the matching process to ensure the logistics are workable for your setting. Here is what it might look like:
    • Afterschool tutoring: In most cases, a school-based staff member is responsible for ensuring that students arrive at the designated tutoring location. Some providers also offer a stipend for a school staff member to serve as a liaison or coordinator.
    • During the school day (in-person or virtual): If tutoring takes place outside the classroom (e.g., in a separate room), a school staff member would need to be present for student supervision and safety, but again, they wouldn't be responsible for overseeing the tutoring itself.
    • Virtual 1:1 tutoring in the classroom: Some vendors can provide tutoring in the regular classroom setting, with no additional supervision required.
• If districts hire their own tutors for a before/after school model, do districts also design/provide their own interventions, or is there a prescribed curriculum? Are they trained by the tutoring vendor?
  • When districts hire their own tutors for a before/ after school model, the tutoring vendor will provide the training, materials, and curriculum to deliver the tutoring instruction.

Costs for Tutoring:

• If tutoring is provided before/after school, can the cost of transportation be included in the grant?
  • No. This opportunity only funds tutoring services. Transportation costs are not included.
• The application says the provider will hire — does this mean it's not really free? We have to front the cost — if the program goes away due to funding are we just out the cost?
  • The tutoring services are fully funded by DESE. Tutoring providers hire and pay tutors directly unless a district chooses a tutoring model that uses its own staff as tutors, in which case the district pays those staff and is reimbursed afterward in accordance with state ethics requirements. In situations where a tutoring model uses district-employed educators as tutors, districts may need to pay those educators through their normal payroll process and then receive reimbursement after the tutoring program concludes. Reimbursement timelines can vary depending on the provider's payment process. Districts will receive specific instructions from the tutoring provider if this arrangement applies to their selected model.

Tutoring Providers Matching Process

• What will the matching process be for tutoring providers and schools/districts for Round 2?
  • DESE will begin the matching process in early December, after reviewing the application forms submitted by districts and charter schools. Districts will have the opportunity to indicate preferences on the application form. DESE will work to honor those preferences while ensuring the selected model is a strong fit for the district's needs and the vendor's capacity. Once a match is proposed, we'll support coordination conversations between the district and vendor to finalize logistics and confirm the partnership.
• In order to provide equitable high dosage tutoring for students well below/below across SEI and DL programs, I am wondering if any of these vendors provide high dosage tutoring to support Spanish language acquisition, specifically Spanish foundational skills? If not, is DESE currently exploring high dosage tutoring for SLA, to support Dual Language programs?
  • At this time, the DESE-approved early literacy tutoring vendors primarily support foundational skills instruction in English, with a focus on decoding, phonological awareness, and fluency aligned to English language development. We understand that dual language programs like yours need tailored support for Spanish language acquisition and foundational literacy in Spanish. Currently, DESE is not offering a parallel DESE-sponsored program for Spanish literacy tutoring.
• For the "DESE-Sponsored Early Literacy Tutoring (No Cost — Pending Funding)," is this matching the district with a program from the approved DESE list? Will the district have choice into which program is selected (and will there be scheduling restrictions on when in the day the tutoring can take place, and the location?
  • Yes — districts participating in the DESE-sponsored early literacy tutoring opportunity will be matched with a vendor from the approved list, based on preferences named in the application form. While final matching will be facilitated by DESE, districts will be able to indicate preferences on the application form — including preferred vendors, tutoring format, staffing model, and when and where tutoring takes place (e.g., during the day, after school, etc.). After initial matches are made based on the application form, DESE will support coordination conversations between providers and districts. The tutoring provider and the school will collaborate to determine scheduling based on tutor availability and school needs.
• What's the timeline on when tutoring will start given the pending funding?
  • The exact launch timeline will depend on the matching and confirmation process. That said, DESE is moving forward with preparations now — including the application form and vendor matching — so that districts and vendors are ready to move quickly once matches are made in late December. Our goal is for round 2 tutoring to begin in February. Districts selected for DESE-sponsored round 2 tutoring will receive updates in December and DESE will work with each LEA and vendor to launch in January.
• The form asks us to choose between tutoring options from other providers or our own. The flyer just mentions outside providers. Can you please clarify if both options are on the table?
  • Yes, both options are on the table. DESE offers two main pathways for districts and charter schools to provide high-dosage early literacy tutoring: (1) DESE-sponsored tutoring at no cost, pending appropriation, using one of DESE's approved vendors and (2) locally funded tutoring using the Master Agreement with approved providers. If your district currently operates its own in-house tutoring program and would like to be considered for DESE-sponsored funding, you need to apply to become an approved provider through COMMBUYS , the state's procurement system. To be eligible for fall 2025 funding consideration, that application must be submitted by June 5, 2025. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis after that date.
• Will there be a rubric used to score applications? If so, are we able to get a copy of the rubric?
  • DESE uses internal review criteria to guide application decisions. All information needed to prepare a strong application is included in the application materials.

Selecting Students for Tutoring

• We are completing the application form for high dosage tutoring. For number 5, we are asked for the number of students scoring below/well below benchmark. For the number of first grade students scoring below or well below, should we provide the most recent beginning of year results for first grade? We also have end of year kindergarten results, for students going into first grade. I'm asking since we generally see an increase in our overall numbers of students from kindergarten to first grade who enroll over the summer and an increase in the number of students scoring below/well below benchmark at the beginning of the year.
  • For rising first graders, you may use end-of-year (EOY) kindergarten data if that's what you currently have available. The application form is designed to provide a reasonable estimate of need, not final numbers. We understand that student enrollment and assessment results often change over the summer, especially in the early grades. Please use the best available data now and know that there will be opportunities to refine student counts before tutoring begins in the winter.
• We only have 5 students in the red for DIBELS. Would they be considered for tutoring?
  • Yes — students who score well below (red) and below benchmark (yellow) on DIBELS are both considered eligible for tutoring.
• We are using EOY Kindergarten DIBELS data to determine the number of seats we need…will we have some flexibility in the fall to update the numbers? We usually get more first graders in the fall and the benchmark gets more challenging, so we often have more first graders falling into red.
  • We understand that beginning-of-year benchmarks can be more challenging and that many districts see an increase in students scoring below/well below between kindergarten and first grade. The application form helps DESE plan and match districts and vendors, but final numbers will be confirmed in collaboration with you later this winter.
• How should we estimate Kindergarten students without data?
  • If you do not yet have assessment data for your incoming kindergarteners, you can provide an estimated number based on historical trends, past K screening data, and patterns in your district's student performance over the past few years.
• How are additional seats outside of grade 1 awarded?
  • Seats beyond first grade may be considered based on the number of eligible students you list by grade, overall program capacity, and vendor site minimums.
• Do you want all of our data of students well/below benchmark or just the students we would select to participate in the grant?
  • You should report the number of seats you are requesting in each grade for students who are below or well below benchmark and who would receive tutoring if selected.
• Have schools in Round 1 put all of their eligible students in the tutoring program or just some?
  • Districts/charters have implemented tutoring differently based on staffing, existing interventions, and local needs. We encourage you to consider how tutoring fits within your own literacy system and identify the eligible students you plan to serve.

Tutoring and Data

• What data will be collected during the tutoring opportunity?
  • Tutoring providers will collect progress monitoring data aligned to their instructional model, which may include subskill tracking, fluency checks, or other short assessments tied to foundational reading skills. In addition, DESE will collect pre- and post-assessment data using DIBELS 8th to measure program impact. Districts will be required to support roster-level data submission and student grouping to track participation and attendance. If your district uses DIBELS, DESE will support you in coordinating data collection and ensuring it aligns with your local systems as much as possible.
  • All students participating in tutoring will be administered DIBELS 8^th Edition at the start and conclusion of the tutoring cycle. Students engaged in a full year tutoring program will also be administered the assessment at the midpoint of the school year. Districts using DIBELS 8^th or mClass may be able to use their own data as a pre or post test depending on the school's screening schedule. Schools not using DIBELS 8^th Edition will have the assessment administered to the student via the tutoring provider. The administration and collection of DIBELS 8th Edition is a requirement to participate in this free opportunity. The Department uses the data collected to determine program efficacy.
• Would these tutors use our progress monitoring system or would it be something different?
  • Tutoring providers approved for the DESE-sponsored opportunity come with their own built-in progress monitoring tools and routines, which are aligned to their tutoring model and instructional approach. These tools help ensure that tutoring is responsive to student needs and that learning is tracked consistently across sites. We encourage coordination between vendors and schools and they may consider aligning their progress updates with your existing systems when feasible.
• Would this tutoring be considered Tier 2 within MTSS?
  • Tutoring is designed as a supplement to strong Tier 1 early literacy instruction. Schools determine how tutoring fits within their MTSS framework based on their local context.
• What are the learning logs, and who completes them?
  • Learning logs are submitted by the tutor, in coordination with the tutoring provider. Logs include the session date, start and end time, student and tutor attendance, and the skill(s) worked on.
• What are gating rules?
  • Gating rules are built-in rules in mClass and DIBELS 8th that "lock" or skip certain subtests. For this opportunity, all DIBELS 8th subtests will be administered pre- and post-tutoring to collect complete growth information.
• Would students who fall in the yellow "some risk" category be considered eligible for tutoring, or is it just the red "significantly below" category?
  • Yes, students who are below and well below benchmark on most the recent screening assessment are eligible for tutoring.
• If applying with recent screener data and student score changes will the seat be taken away? We use FastBridge and if a student is below or well below, but not on DIBELS can they still receive tutoring?
  • To be eligible, students must be below or well below benchmark on their most recent early literacy screener. If a student moves above benchmark after tutoring begins, schools and tutoring providers have discretion in determining whether tutoring should continue. If a school decides that a student no longer needs tutoring, the seat may be reassigned to another eligible first grader (or, if none are available, another eligible K-3 student) in alignment with tutoring cycles.

Other questions

• I would love to learn more about the programs being offered and how to apply to become a tutor. I am excited to participate in the program!
  • Tutoring for the DESE-sponsored initiative is delivered through a group of approved vendors who each have their own hiring and training processes. If you're interested in becoming a tutor, we encourage you to explore opportunities directly through these organizations
• Is there any information on additional grant opportunities to support some of our students in our SLIFE program?
  • Additional grant opportunities are consistently being added throughout the year. Please refer to the DESE website for additional information or the DESE Catalog of aligned supports.

If you have questions, please join us for weekly office hours. Sign up here: Early Literacy Tutoring Office Hours

You can also email questions to LiteracyandHumanities@mass.gov .