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Aspire Launches Partnership To Provide Unlimited Virtual Tutoring for All Secondary Students

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Aspire Launches Partnership To Provide Unlimited Virtual Tutoring for All Secondary Students
Over 7,000 students will benefit from access to free 24/7, one-on-one support

Oakland, Calif. [2/09/21] Aspire Public Schools has partnered with Paper to offer on-demand virtual tutoring for all core subjects to over 7,000 students in grades six through 12. Students will have instant access to one-on-one tutoring services, offered in English, Spanish, French and Mandarin, 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The partnership, which launched last month, is part of a research project conducted by the National Student Support Accelerator, a part of the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. The research will explore whether tutoring services, typically most accessible to students from privileged backgrounds, could significantly impact academic achievement of students from historically disenfranchised communities, including students of color, English language learners, and those from low-income backgrounds. 

“Among the many inequities that exist in education today is access to support services outside of school that can help students succeed,” said Mala Batra, CEO of Aspire. “Aspire’s partnership with Paper helps to close the opportunity gap by allowing students to access personalized academic support for however long they need it. This comes at a time when our student population has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and obstacles of distance learning. The need for additional support has never been greater.”

The circumstances of the pandemic have posed significant challenges for students and teachers that could have long-term consequences, particularly for students of color and low-income students. Even with effective distance learning programs, many older students have struggled to keep up with their education due to a variety of circumstances including unstable economic conditions, responsibilities for younger family members and unreliable internet access. With less time to make up for learning loss, secondary students are particularly vulnerable if they fall behind, but personalized tutoring can rapidly improve student outcomes

The partnership between Aspire and Paper will make unlimited virtual tutoring services accessible to all of Aspire’s 7,000 secondary students. Aspire has focused the initial rollout on English language learners and ninth-grade students, as research shows that failing grades at the onset of high school increases students’ likelihood of being pushed out of school and not earning their high school diploma. Students log on to Paper’s interactive platform and connect instantly with a tutor via a live chat function that allows them to seek homework help, writing feedback and study support. Personalized tutoring sessions can last for a few minutes or several hours, depending on the needs of the student, and can happen as frequently as a student wants. Students can also submit written work, including essays, lab reports, research papers and college applications, and receive feedback on grammar, structure, content and style. 

“It has always been part of Paper’s mission to promote educational equity by providing academic support services to students who may not have the resources to access them,” said Paper’s CEO, Philip Cutler. “Now more than ever, we must be proactive in providing all students with the support they need, when they need it, so that we do not further exacerbate the opportunity gap for our students. We are thrilled to partner with the Aspire community so that we can achieve this common goal.”

About Aspire Public Schools
Aspire Public Schools operates 38 community-based public charter schools educating over 15,500 students in underserved communities across California. Founded in 1998, Aspire is one of the nation’s largest open-enrollment public charter school systems serving predominantly students of color from low-income communities. Delivering a rigorous education to students in grades TK-12, College for Certain is the focus for every age group. Teachers and families partner closely to ensure scholars are prepared to succeed in college, career and life. Currently in its 21st academic year, Aspire is one of the nation’s first charter school systems. Visit Aspire Public Schools atwww.aspirepublicschools.org.

About Paper Education
Paper partners with K-12 schools throughout the U.S. and Canada to give every student an equal opportunity to excel academically. Our educational support system (ESS) provides learners with unlimited 24×7 homework help, writing feedback and study support at a predictable fixed cost. Paper’s specialized tutors deliver on-demand, 1:1 academic support in four languages across more than 200 academic subject areas—so students always have access to expert extra help exactly when, where and how they need it. To learn more, visit www.paper.co.

About The National Student Success Accelerator
The National Student Support Accelerator seeks to ensure every student in need has access to an effective tutor who champions their learning and success. Launched to address student learning needs caused by COVID-19, the Accelerator conducts, coordinates and synthesizes research and translates findings into actionable best practices. Working with states, districts, schools and tutoring organizations, the Accelerator provides research-based best practices through tools and technical assistance to accelerate the growth of high-impact tutoring opportunities for K-12 students in need. To learn more, visit www.studentsupportaccelerator.com