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DESE‑funded Imagine Learning tutoring shows early gains in Quincy elementary and middle schools
Summary
District staff reported results from a DESE grant providing high‑dosage virtual math tutoring through Imagine Learning to selected fourth‑ and eighth‑grade students; seats expanded from 64 to 108 between cycles and pre/post assessments showed measurable gains in focus areas.
District staff reported on a high‑dosage virtual math tutoring initiative funded through a DESE grant and delivered by Imagine Learning.
Miss Quinn said the program pairs one tutor with four students for 30 minutes, three times per week. The first 12‑week cycle ran from October to January. Fourth‑grade focus areas included place value, fractions, decimals and multiplication/division; eighth‑grade options included the real‑number system, equations, graphing and geometry. Principals prioritized seats based on need; Atherton Howe was the only elementary school selected because many other elementary schools had recently received a separate ST Math grant.
Each of four participating schools was initially awarded 16 seats (64 total). After promising results in the first cycle, DESE offered expansion and Quincy increased seats to 108 for the second cycle. At the end of cycle 1, staff reported an average improvement of just over 20% among Atherton Howe fourth graders who worked on multiplication and division; among eighth‑grade students who completed both pre and post assessments, average improvements exceeded 14% for real numbers and linear equations and exceeded 34% for geometry. Staff also cited some students with much larger gains and noted attendance affected outcomes.
Quinn described the pre/post assessment format (10 multiple‑choice questions and one open‑response worth 4 points) and said DESE monitors attendance closely; students with poor attendance were removed from the program. Staff said average session attendance rates were generally at or above 75–80 percent and some cohorts reached higher attendance.
The district recorded positive classroom reports from teachers; Colleen Clifford (Southwest Middle School) said participating students showed increased confidence and some students improved MAP scores by roughly 10 points. DESE has asked whether other schools would participate in an abbreviated eight‑week session after April vacation; staff said they are exploring expanding the program and plan to apply again if DESE offers funding next year.
