About
The Illinois Tutoring Initiative offers reading tutoring, math tutoring, online math tutoring, high-impact tutoring, focused 1:1 tutoring, and small-group tutoring. 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. The program uses a high-impact tutoring model based on equity, safety, and cohesion, with one-to-one or small-group delivery for at least three sessions per week.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
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 and are supported and trained in culturally relevant tutoring practices, social-emotional learning (SEL) practices, and content material, and they receive training, support, and supervision. The program uses high-quality resources that are aligned with curriculum and learning standards, and its instruction and improvement are data-driven.
The Illinois Tutoring Initiative operates across six regional hubs through collaboration between institutions of higher education and school districts of need in six regions across the state. It is a collaboration between the Illinois State Board of Education and the 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. Illinois State University is the coordinating institution administering the initiative across the six regions and seven institutional partners, and tutors include teacher education candidates, higher education students, and other community partners, with a combination of in-person and online tutoring offered regionally.
The Biden-Harris administration recognized the Illinois Tutoring Initiative for its high-impact tutoring efforts for students impacted by the pandemic and identified 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 were awarded the Southern Illinois University System’s 2024 Faculty Collaboration Award at the SIU Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 12.
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 (Program Assistant 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).
Testimonials from students, tutors, and school staff describe experiences with reading and writing improvement, enrichment activities, student confidence in class participation, and support from regional coordinators and administrators. These testimonials come from individuals at schools including Cahokia Penniman Elementary, Murphysboro Carruthers, CCSD 168 Strassburg Elementary, DeKalb Lincoln Elementary, Peoria Glen Oak Elementary, and Marquette Elementary.
Last updated May 25, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
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 and are supported and trained in culturally relevant tutoring practices, social-emotional learning (SEL) practices, and content material, and they receive training, support, and supervision. The program uses high-quality resources that are aligned with curriculum and learning standards, and its instruction and improvement are data-driven.
The Illinois Tutoring Initiative operates across six regional hubs through collaboration between institutions of higher education and school districts of need in six regions across the state. It is a collaboration between the Illinois State Board of Education and the 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. Illinois State University is the coordinating institution administering the initiative across the six regions and seven institutional partners, and tutors include teacher education candidates, higher education students, and other community partners, with a combination of in-person and online tutoring offered regionally.
The Biden-Harris administration recognized the Illinois Tutoring Initiative for its high-impact tutoring efforts for students impacted by the pandemic and identified 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 were awarded the Southern Illinois University System’s 2024 Faculty Collaboration Award at the SIU Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 12.
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 (Program Assistant 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).
Testimonials from students, tutors, and school staff describe experiences with reading and writing improvement, enrichment activities, student confidence in class participation, and support from regional coordinators and administrators. These testimonials come from individuals at schools including Cahokia Penniman Elementary, Murphysboro Carruthers, CCSD 168 Strassburg Elementary, DeKalb Lincoln Elementary, Peoria Glen Oak Elementary, and Marquette Elementary.
Last updated May 25, 2026.
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