We are thrilled to announce the kick-off of Accelerate’s 2025-26 Community of Practice (CoP) last week. Since 2021, Accelerate has made grants to over 80 programs across 29 states, funded more than 65 research studies, and launched over 30 randomized control trials. Our Community of Practice brings together this diverse network of current grantees, alumni, and strategic partners to share learnings and strengthen the evidence base for high-impact tutoring nationwide. This year’s CoP reflects our commitment to delivering the content most valuable to our network: emerging research findings and practical strategies for funding and sustaining high-impact tutoring and personalized learning programs.
Keynote Presentation
The kick-off event featured a keynote from Dr. Carly Robinson from Stanford University’s SCALE Initiative on “The Future of Personalized, Relationship-Based Learning.” Dr. Robinson presented research on how AI and technology can enhance—rather than replace—the human relationships that are foundational to effective tutoring. Her framework for understanding personalized learning across a spectrum of relational intensity resonated deeply with our diverse network of providers and districts.
| Key insights from Dr. Robinson’s presentation included:The critical role of relationships in implementation quality – dosage matters significantly, but effective implementation depends fundamentally on strong educator-student relationships and accountability structures.How AI can enhance rather than replace human connection – Dr. Robinson presented an “All About Me” intervention that improved teacher-student relationships by 0.30 standard deviations simply by facilitating better mutual understanding.Equity considerations in tech-enabled solutions – When offering on-demand tutoring resources without structured support, only 19% of students engaged, with higher-performing students more likely to participate—highlighting how human touchpoints are essential to prevent widening achievement gaps |
Streamlined CoP Structure: Research and Funding Focus
Based on direct feedback from our community, this year’s CoP features a streamlined structure with four virtual sessions focused on two core strands:
- Research Sessions: Sharing Accelerate’s latest research findings, including results from our 2024-25 Call to Effective Action portfolio and previews of our 2025-26 Evidence for Impact studies, plus emerging field learnings on tutoring effectiveness and cost efficiency.
- Funding and Sustainability Sessions: Exploring practical strategies for long-term program sustainability, including Title I and federal funding navigation, integration within Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), and innovative approaches like apprenticeships and work-based learning.
Looking Ahead
Our next session on November 5th will present research findings from our 2024-25 portfolio. Stay tuned for updates and insights from our Community of Practice throughout the year!
