Tutor with Step Up

Join us as a volunteer tutor today and help close the opportunity gap. We will train you with all the resources you need to be a high-impact tutor and mentor for one of the millions of youth who lost educational opportunities during the pandemic.

Why Join the Movement?

It’s never been a more important time to join the movement to close the education gap—the COVID pandemic widened long-standing disparities and disproportionately affected students furthest from opportunity. Math in particular is a critical subject for grade-level students: falling behind has ripple effects that can impact students’ life trajectory.

That’s where you come in.

At Step Up, we believe everyone can play a role in leveling the playing field. Step Up Tutoring is a non-profit that recruits and trains adult volunteers and college students to provide academic support and mentorship to students in 2nd-6th grade. As a tutor, you’ll meet with a student 1:1 and use a research-backed online curriculum tailored to students' individual needs. By showing up for them as a resource and mentor, you will impact their academic career, gain a meaningful relationship, and get us another step closer to equity in the education system.

Why Step Up Works

Step Up’s program provides high-impact tutoring in math and literacy, which research shows is one of the most effective ways to accelerate learning. Here’s what we mean by “high-impact” tutoring:

Frequency and Consistency

You’ll have regular 1:1 meetings twice a week to help students retain learning and build tutor-student relationships.

High Quality
Instructional Materials

You’ll use our research-backed curricula that are personalized to each student’s needs and aligned with classroom learning. 

Total
Support

Step Up makes it easy for you to help give all kids a fair shot, providing comprehensive training and support throughout the program.

How To get started as a Volunteer Tutor

Program Requirements

  • Must be 16 or over

  • Must reside in the US

  • Must complete a Live Scan fingerprinting background check

  • Commitment: Once matched with a student, we ask that you commit to tutoring your student for at least 90 minutes per week at a regular time slots, for a minimum of 3 months 

  • Technology: You need a computer or tablet with a camera and microphone and a solid Wi-Fi connection

  • Passion: By being a tutor, you have the chance to be a mentor and help a student build confidence and the skills needed to achieve their dreams

Program Details

  • Step Up serves 2nd-6th grade students in under-resourced communities

  • You meet 1:1 with your student a minimum of twice a week

  • You’ll tutor students in math or literacy, focusing on foundational elementary skills to foster confidence and a positive mindset

  • Sessions are hosted online while students are at home, in an after school program, or during school 

  • You’ll offer ongoing communication about student progress with teachers and families (translation support provided)

Why Tutors Love working With Step Up

  • Flexibility: Step Up’s program is totally remote, so you can tutor from anywhere, and we match you with a student based on your own schedule.

  • Our support: We fully train you so you feel prepared and confident to tutor students, and once you’re in the program, we continue to support you throughout your tutoring experience, including pairing you with a Step Up Experience Manager once you complete training so you have a personal point of contact right from the start.

  • Meaningful relationships: The bond between tutor and student goes beyond academics; 1:1 meetings foster social-emotional skills for students. The majority of our tutors say they form a meaningful connection with their students.

  • Valuable skills and experience: Whether you want to explore a teaching career or another career path, tutoring helps to build critical skills like communication and relationship-building, which is applicable in nearly every life context. Tutoring experience is a valuable addition to your resume.

  • You‘re closing the education gap: Helping a student succeed in math pays dividends: an internal study found students who received at least 3 months of the recommended dosage of tutoring with Step Up experienced 4x the rate of academic growth of those who did not receive the full program dosage. Plus, a 2009 national study revealed that students with a mentor were twice as likely to graduate from college.

Are you a Work-Study student or College Corps fellow?

Step Up is a community partner for Federal Work-Study and Californians for All College Corps. We partner with dozens of colleges and universities and these students make up a core group of our tutors. To see if your school is an approved partner for Work-Study or College Corps, please contact us using one of the emails below or check with your school’s financial aid office.

Ready to be a high-impact tutor and change a student’s life? 

Frequently Asked Questions About Step Up Tutoring

  • Yes! You just need to be over 16, located in the US, and pass a background check. You also need to be able to devote a minimum of 90 minutes (divided into two 45-minute sessions) per week to tutoring.

  • For the level of our students (3rd-6th grade), the subject of math is crucial. The goal is to prepare them for success in middle school math, building confidence and a solid understanding of foundational math concepts. Having this foundation in middle school then sets them up to tackle high school math—students who don’t pass Algebra I in 9th grade are far less likely to graduate from high school on time or attend college, so if we can provide them with a foundation in elementary school, we can essentially impact their entire academic career.

  • Yes! First of all, we want to change the idea that some people aren’t ‘math people’—this is a pervasive idea that kids learn at a young age, which is why we don’t just teach math, we build confidence around the subject. We believe anyone can be a math person, but if you need a little help, we got you: we give you plenty of training and resources around these basics, with nanocourses on the core elementary math concepts. And that’s what our grade-level students need help with: math basics like addition and subtraction. The online math platform we use also has structured lessons to guide your sessions.

  • Not at all! You just have to be willing to learn and train, and we'll handle the rest.

  • A minimum of three months; most end up staying for more than 6 months or the full school year—what’s most important is that you can commit to meeting with your student at least two times a week.

  • We know you have a full schedule—as long as you can meet at least twice a week, we’ll be able to match you with a student. Time slots are available in the morning, afternoons, and evenings (Pacific Time).

  • You will receive training on the foundations of high-impact tutoring and evidence-based practices for math tutoring, as well as the use of technology in tutoring. Our industry-leading training is highly flexible, including a combination of trainings you can access on your own time and live orientations with Step Up staff and fellow tutors. There are also optional training sessions you can take if you want to improve in a particular area!

Still have a question? Let’s get in touch!