Before the pandemic, only 12 out of 89 schools in Southeast L.A. reached the statewide average in English and math. Southeast L.A. serves the second highest concentration of Latino students in LAUSD. Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Parent Leaders have been organizing since 2018 to improve the educational opportunities in their community and change this statistic. The disproportionate access to education that low-income, Black, and Latino students received during distance learning have amplified demands for more investments in SELA schools.
The abrupt closure of schools in 2020 quickly illustrated how underserved communities like Southeast L.A. lacked the proper resources and support for their children. Research confirms that during distance learning, Black and Latino students were more likely to have only remote learning options, less instructional time, and inadequate access to technology to participate in remote instruction. This research mirrors the experience of many families in SELA. As a result, existing achievement gaps in LAUSD widened.
Parents throughout SELA were overwhelmed with a sense of urgency to find solutions that could reach their kids immediately. Through their involvement in a UCLA student volunteer tutoring program, SELA Parent Leaders saw how a consistent tutor not only helped their kids improve their grades, but also helped them feel more confident and be more willing to participate in class. While looking for quality tutoring programs that served their area, parents quickly learned that SELA was in a tutoring desert – an underserved community where quality tutoring programs are nearly nonexistent.
“It’s a bit difficult to find tutoring programs in our area because there aren’t as many tutors serving our community like there are in other areas. I’ve seen how places like Montebello and Torrance have access to private tutors and offices that show how they can help students with their A-G requirements or leveling up in math or whatever. Unfortunately in our community there is no such option.” – Aida Vega, Innovate Parent Leader, Southeast Los Angeles
Parents know tutoring is a proven way to address unfinished learning and help kids advance and thrive, but the reality for many low-income families is that high quality tutoring is expensive and out-of-reach.
SELA parent leaders are now focused on LAUSD taking immediate steps to prioritize a plan that uses recovery funds to sustainably expand access to tutoring. Parents are asking for accessible, high-quality tutoring programs ¹ that:
- Allow students and tutors to meet on a frequent basis (at least 2-3 times per week)
- Have consistent, well-trained tutors that build strong relationships with students
- Offer 1:1 or small group tutoring (no more than 3 students per tutor)
- Are integrated into school programs
- Are data-driven
Responding to this crisis and centering the needs of our students will take strong partnership and commitment from our schools, communities, and families. We must work together to restore hope in our schools by making sure individualized enrichment opportunities like high-quality tutoring are accessible to our students, especially for those in underserved communities.
¹Research shows that the most effective tutoring programs have consistent, well-trained tutors that are able to build strong relationships with students, provide high-dosage tutoring meeting frequently (at least 2-3 times per week) in 1:1 or small groups (no more than 3 students), are integrated into school programs, and use data to regularly inform instruction and program improvement.
Innovate Public Schools is a nonprofit community organization that builds the capacity of parents and educators working together to create excellent and equitable public schools.