About
The Illinois Tutoring Initiative offers high-impact tutoring that includes reading tutoring, math tutoring, and online math tutoring. Tutoring is provided one-to-one or in small groups for at least three sessions per week. Tutoring is available in person for reading and math for students in grades 3–8, and online math tutoring is available for high school students.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: One-to-one or small group tutoring for at least three sessions per week
The program’s mission is to support the learning and social/emotional well-being of students in the wake of the pandemic by building confident learners through high-impact tutoring. Tutors are consistent, well-supported, and trained in culturally relevant tutoring practices and social-emotional learning (SEL) practices in addition to content material. The initiative uses high-quality resources aligned with curriculum and learning standards, provides data-driven program instruction and improvement, and combines in-person and online tutoring across six regional hubs in Illinois. Illinois State University serves as the coordinating institution, administering the initiative across six regions and seven institutional partners, with centralized systems for tutor training, tutor and student matching, data collection, background checks, and marketing and communication. Great tutors for K–12 students are drawn from teacher education candidates, higher education students, and other community partners, with training, support, and supervision of tutors.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Christy Borders; IT Director Chandler Kaiden; Director of Communications Jill Messamore; High School Math lead Zach Miner; Program Assistants Maxine Sexton and Olivia Santos (High School Math); Data Entry staff member Nick Bolin; CBC Specialist Barb Jacobsen; and regional leaders Dr. Jeanetta Edwards (Region 1), Amanda Baum (Region 2), Chatea Green (Region 3), Kim Champion (Region 4), Amy Wilkinson (Region 5), Dr. Jessica Madden (Region 5/6), and Melissa Comstock (Region 6). The initiative is a collaboration between the Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Board of Higher Education, funded by federal COVID-19 relief funds, with the Illinois Community College Board and Office of the Governor on the statewide planning team. Since the 2022–23 school year, the Illinois Tutoring Initiative has brought more than 83,000 hours of high-impact tutoring to over 6,000 students across the state, and involves 67 districts, 925 tutor assignments, 143 schools, and 2,655 students.
The Biden-Harris administration has recognized the Illinois Tutoring Initiative for its high-impact tutoring efforts for students impacted by the pandemic, identifying it as having a high-quality, high-dosage tutoring program. Four faculty members from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Southern Illinois University Carbondale connected to this work received the Southern Illinois University System’s 2024 Faculty Collaboration Award. Illinois is noted in the facts as standing out as a pioneer in education recovery, achieving full English Language Arts (ELA) recovery amid pandemic disruptions.
Parent, student, and tutor testimonials describe experiences such as a student at Cahokia Penniman Elementary who reports that tutoring has helped with reading and writing and working more independently in class, and a tutor at Murphysboro Carruthers who observed a student being called on in class, answering correctly, and moving up a reading group. A parent from CCSD 168 Strassburg Elementary reports seeing differences in students and confidence in learners, and a tutor at DeKalb Lincoln Elementary describes working one-on-one with a student who needs enrichment. A retired teacher at Peoria Glen Oak Elementary notes using years of classroom experience in this role and describes strong support from the regional coordinator and administration, and a tutor at Marquette Elementary describes noticing when a student becomes more confident and more willing to try challenging work.
Last updated January 12, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: One-to-one or small group tutoring for at least three sessions per week
The program’s mission is to support the learning and social/emotional well-being of students in the wake of the pandemic by building confident learners through high-impact tutoring. Tutors are consistent, well-supported, and trained in culturally relevant tutoring practices and social-emotional learning (SEL) practices in addition to content material. The initiative uses high-quality resources aligned with curriculum and learning standards, provides data-driven program instruction and improvement, and combines in-person and online tutoring across six regional hubs in Illinois. Illinois State University serves as the coordinating institution, administering the initiative across six regions and seven institutional partners, with centralized systems for tutor training, tutor and student matching, data collection, background checks, and marketing and communication. Great tutors for K–12 students are drawn from teacher education candidates, higher education students, and other community partners, with training, support, and supervision of tutors.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Christy Borders; IT Director Chandler Kaiden; Director of Communications Jill Messamore; High School Math lead Zach Miner; Program Assistants Maxine Sexton and Olivia Santos (High School Math); Data Entry staff member Nick Bolin; CBC Specialist Barb Jacobsen; and regional leaders Dr. Jeanetta Edwards (Region 1), Amanda Baum (Region 2), Chatea Green (Region 3), Kim Champion (Region 4), Amy Wilkinson (Region 5), Dr. Jessica Madden (Region 5/6), and Melissa Comstock (Region 6). The initiative is a collaboration between the Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Board of Higher Education, funded by federal COVID-19 relief funds, with the Illinois Community College Board and Office of the Governor on the statewide planning team. Since the 2022–23 school year, the Illinois Tutoring Initiative has brought more than 83,000 hours of high-impact tutoring to over 6,000 students across the state, and involves 67 districts, 925 tutor assignments, 143 schools, and 2,655 students.
The Biden-Harris administration has recognized the Illinois Tutoring Initiative for its high-impact tutoring efforts for students impacted by the pandemic, identifying it as having a high-quality, high-dosage tutoring program. Four faculty members from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Southern Illinois University Carbondale connected to this work received the Southern Illinois University System’s 2024 Faculty Collaboration Award. Illinois is noted in the facts as standing out as a pioneer in education recovery, achieving full English Language Arts (ELA) recovery amid pandemic disruptions.
Parent, student, and tutor testimonials describe experiences such as a student at Cahokia Penniman Elementary who reports that tutoring has helped with reading and writing and working more independently in class, and a tutor at Murphysboro Carruthers who observed a student being called on in class, answering correctly, and moving up a reading group. A parent from CCSD 168 Strassburg Elementary reports seeing differences in students and confidence in learners, and a tutor at DeKalb Lincoln Elementary describes working one-on-one with a student who needs enrichment. A retired teacher at Peoria Glen Oak Elementary notes using years of classroom experience in this role and describes strong support from the regional coordinator and administration, and a tutor at Marquette Elementary describes noticing when a student becomes more confident and more willing to try challenging work.
Last updated January 12, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.