Serving Title I schools with significant achievement gaps in math and reading is a challenge faced by many districts across the country. Houston Independent School District (HISD) needed a solution that would address these gaps and work towards improving student performance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). To make this change happen, HISD partnered with Catapult Learning to provide a flexible and targeted tutoring solution for 1487 Title I students in 19 HISD schools serving this largely at-risk student population.

As a contracted provider for HISD, Catapult Learning can help close student achievement gaps for struggling learners. Our effective tutoring programs build confidence, skills, and work habits to help students succeed in the classroom and on test day.

Tutors work with small groups to help students succeed. Content areas include reading, math, writing, High School English, algebra, and geometry.

School Year: 2015–2016
Grades Served: 1–11
Services: Title I Reading and Math

The HISD implementation included small-group instruction and targeted remediation during and after school. Students attended reading, writing and math (including geometry and algebra) tutoring sessions up to five days a week, depending on need. Students were scheduled to attend at least 20 tutoring sessions (up to 90 minutes each) over the eight-week period beginning in February 2016.

In reading, students moved from scoring an average of 28 points on the pretest to 40 points on the posttest. The difference between the average pretest and posttest scores in reading was 11 NCE points.

In math, students moved from scoring an average of 42 points on the pretest to 59 points on the posttest. The difference between the average pretest and posttest scores in math was 17 NCE points.