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Board authorizes HeyTutor pilot to provide face‑to‑face tutoring for newcomer students
Summary
The board approved a sole‑source agreement with HeyTutor to run a three‑day‑a‑week, small‑group after‑school tutoring pilot for newcomer students at select elementary sites; district staff described group size, staffing and assessment plans.
The Santa Maria‑Bonita School District authorized a sole‑source agreement with HeyTutor Inc. to provide after‑school, face‑to‑face tutoring for newcomer students at up to four elementary sites that currently lack newcomer teachers.
Dr. Schiffer described the program as small‑group acceleration for newcomers with trained tutors: "This is face‑to‑face tutoring that will occur after school with college‑educated tutors who are specifically recruited and trained to work with our newcomer students," she said. The initial pilot will run three days a week with two one‑hour sessions per day; groups will be no larger than four students and tutors will be selected to match students’ language and culture when possible.
Board members asked how tutors will coordinate with classroom teachers and how students will be selected. Staff said multilingual services staff will manage enrollment and provide assessments and teacher feedback channels. The pilot will start at four sites with high newcomer numbers that do not already have newcomer teachers; if successful, staff said they hope to expand.
Why it matters: District staff said small, consistent tutoring groups are a proven acceleration strategy for newcomer students and can improve ELA and math outcomes; the board approved the sole‑source contract after a presentation and Q&A.
Ending: The motion to authorize the sole‑source agreement passed; staff will report back on implementation and program outcomes as the pilot proceeds.
