Funding What Works: "Results for America" Helps CA Districts Navigate Effective Tutoring

Results for America, in collaboration with the National Student Support Accelerator (NSSA), is inviting teams from California Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to apply for an 8-session virtual learning program. This opportunity is designed for teams committed to expanding evidence-based, high-impact tutoring and shifting toward more effective, transparent funding models. 

Through webinars and ready-to-use resources, participating educators will gain practical tools to scale tutoring programs that accelerate student learning. Educators can apply for this free series here before August 20, 2025.

This is a timely opportunity to adopt outcomes-based contracting—a model that ties payments for services, such as tutoring, to measurable student progress.

Hoot Reading completed an outcomes-based pilot program with a district in Southern California, demonstrating how this approach can yield significant gains for students within a relatively short period. 

The Challenge: Students Behind in Foundational Literacy

The pilot focused on 48 English learners in grades 3-5, all of whom are native Spanish speakers. Diagnostic assessments revealed that 76% of the enrolled students needed instruction in skills typically mastered in grades K-2, a familiar challenge in California, where many multilingual learners struggle with foundational reading skills.

The Results: Measurable Gains in Just Five Months

By the end of the five-month program, we measured impressive growth from the enrolled students:

• The percentage of students demonstrating mastery of grade 2 reading skills more than doubled, from 24% to 50%
• In NWEA MAP Growth Assessment results shared by the district, 56% of the students showed strong growth
• 46% of students achieved Advanced MAP Growth (exceeding 66% growth)

Why Outcomes-Based Contracting Works

While traditional contracts often focus on the number of tutoring hours or lessons delivered, outcomes-based contracts focus on achieving measurable, transferable reading gains for their students, ensuring that district funding dollars lead to lasting academic growth.

As California districts look for effective ways to use literacy funding, outcomes-based contracts can offer:

• Clear goals and accountability tied to outcomes
• Aligned funding that rewards measurable growth
• Stronger trust with literacy providers
• Focused intervention that meets the needs of multilingual learners

Ready to explore outcomes-based contracting for your district? Contact us to learn how we can partner with your school or district to deliver measurable literacy gains for the students who need it the most.