West Philadelphia Tutoring Project

OVERVIEW

The West Philadelphia Tutoring Project (WPTP) is a volunteer tutoring program for elementary and middle school students. College students serve as tutors for children during the entire school year. Results of a randomly assigned experimental evaluation showed that there were no significant impacts on math or reading scores, school attendance, or perception of ability for the children participating in WPTP.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Target population: Elementary and middle school students.

The West Philadelphia Tutoring Project (WPTP) is a tutoring program run by the Civic House at the University of Pennsylvania that uses university students as volunteer tutors. Students are tutored one-on-one for approximately one hour per week during the school year. Tutors are supervised and mentored by University of Pennsylvania staff, but they participate in minimal pre-service training. There are approximately 300 tutors and 15 team leaders making up the program. A tutoring program for high school students is available and consists of in-classroom and outside of classroom work in one-on-one and group situations.

EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM

Ritter, G. W., & Maynard, R. A. (2008). Using the right design to get the "wrong" answer? Results of a random assignment evaluation of a volunteer tutoring programme. Journal of Children's Services, 3(2), 4-16.

Evaluated population: Three hundred eighty five poorly performing students (as noted by teachers) from 11 elementary schools in Philadelphia. Approximately 47% of the sample was female and 96% of the sample was African American. Forty percent of the students were in fourth grade, while second, third, and fifth grade students made up the remainder of the sample. Sixty-two percent of the students were in a home receiving welfare assistance and 34% were in a home with both their mother and father. During the year prior to this evaluation, the students earned an average grade of C minus for both math and reading.

Approach: Students were randomly assigned to receive tutoring services during one or both semesters of the school year or were assigned to a control group. Students were assessed on reading and math test scores and grades, perception of ability, and school attendance.

Results: At the end of school year follow-up, there was no significant impact on reading or math test scores or grades. There was no impact on perception of ability or school attendance.

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

http://www.dolphin.upenn.edu/wptp/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Philadelphia-Tutoring-Project/375293019499

References

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

Evaluated participant ages: 5-12

Program age ranges in the Guide: Middle childhood, adolescence.

Program components: Mentoring/tutoring

Measured outcomes: Education and Cognitive Development

KEYWORDS: Children, Adolescents, Elementary, Middle School, Co-ed, Black/African American, High-Risk, Tutoring, Urban, Reading, Mathematics, Academic Motivation/Self-Concept/Expectations, Academic Achievement.

Program information last updated 6/10/10