District spotlights AllCore tutoring program focused on low student-to-adult ratios and sustained sessions

The Murfreesboro City Schools board received a Spotlight on Education presentation Sept. 23 on the district’s AllCore tutoring model from Felicia James, intervention and acceleration specialist. James said AllCore — presented in the meeting as “All in Ten AllCore” — is a research-based tutoring model that uses a low student-to-instructor ratio (about 4-to-1), sustained sessions three to five times per week throughout the school year and high-quality instructional materials aligned to tier-1 instruction. The program is staffed largely by educational assistants who provide tutoring during a “boost block” and receive ongoing training and support, James said. The district also emphasized that tutoring occurs during the school day. Board members praised the program for providing face-to-face staff who reflect the student population and for the work seen to prepare for required third-grade retention provisions that motivated parts of the tutoring rollout. James and other staff present said the program shows progress and that educational assistants leading sessions are trained to align to classroom instruction. The presentation included a photograph of tutors with permission from the individuals pictured. The district said AllCore grew in response to statutory preparation needs for third-grade promotion and as part of the broader acceleration work for students.