NEWS RELEASE
Washington, D.C., July 6, 2026 — CitySchools Collaborative (CSC) is expanding its Intermediary Support for Tutoring (IST) model beyond Washington, DC, with its first school and tutoring partnerships in Maryland and Virginia. Across DC, CSC’s coalition has already served more than 36,000 students, and with growing investments, CSC will accelerate the learning of thousands more while expanding access to high-impact tutoring (HIT) across the DMV. This growth marks a meaningful step toward reaching more students who need it most across the region.
The expansion builds on a series of investments in CSC’s model, among them, a $10 million Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Mid-Phase grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand and rigorously evaluate CSC’s Intermediary Support for Tutoring model. Through the grant, CSC will scale its work to reach more than 15,000 K-8 students across DC, Maryland, and Virginia by 2030, with a focus on improving literacy outcomes for students furthest from opportunity. The grant also funds a rigorous, independent evaluation in partnership with Bellwether to strengthen national evidence on how to scale and sustain high-impact tutoring (HIT).
Growing into Maryland and Virginia
- In Maryland, CSC brought its support for HIT to College Park Academy (CPA). In fall 2025, CPA completed a four-week, CSC-led Design Sprint to redesign its school day to better support both students and teachers through tutoring with the University of Maryland. The CPA pilot represents CSC’s first efforts to bring its unique set of supports to students in Maryland.
- In Virginia, CSC has partnered with EduTutorVA to bring Sophia to tutors to build their skills in teaching math. Sophia is an AI coach for tutors built on CSC’s high-impact tutoring math curriculum. The tool provides tutors with timely, curriculum-aligned coaching to deepen content knowledge, strengthen lesson preparation, and improve math instruction. Tutors across Grades 3–8 have drawn on Sophia to strengthen their teaching. Early findings suggest strong tutor engagement and indicate that tutors feel more prepared and confident going into tutoring sessions due to just-in-time support from Sophia. The innovation and development of Sophia have been powered by partners including NewSchools Venture Fund and the Global Technology Industry Association.
Local learning, regional expansion
Since 2020, CSC has refined its approach across DC partnerships, capturing learnings and proving what works to improve outcomes for students furthest from opportunity. An analysis of CSC conducted by EmpowerK12 found that DC students who reached high-impact tutoring dosage, at least 90 minutes per week, made 44% more progress than expected, gaining the equivalent of 59 extra instructional days in math. For students whose tutoring was supported closely by CSC’s Intermediary Support for Tutoring, through regular check-ins, Communities of Practice, and Design Sprints, that number grew to nearly 90 extra learning days in math.
“DC ranks first among states in reading and math growth since 2022, and this progress is a direct result of sustained commitment and investment in programs like HIT. We look forward to building on what we’ve learned in DC to scale with our Maryland and Virginia partners what we know accelerates student learning.” — Cat Peretti, Executive Director, CitySchools Collaborative
To meet rising demand for CSC’s intermediary support, and in preparation for the 2026-27 school year, CSC has begun expanding its coalition with neighboring schools and districts across the DMV. These new partners will join CSC’s growing coalition, sustaining and growing the impact of HIT, and building on the proof of what’s possible for student achievement when tutoring is implemented with the right design, dosage, and support.
Interested in bringing CSC’s Intermediary Support for Tutoring to your school or district?
Reach out to CitySchools Collaborative at comms@cityschoolscollab.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is CitySchools Collaborative?
CitySchools Collaborative catalyzes high-impact tutoring and strategic talent models to serve thousands of students. Its coalition-building approach and innovative solutions improve student well-being, accelerate academic performance, and enhance flexible staffing systems in schools to help create a public education system that serves and empowers all children. To learn more about CitySchools Collaborative, visit cityschoolscollab.org.
How many students has CitySchools Collaborative served in DC?
CSC’s coalition has already served more than 36,000 students across DC.
What is the $10 million grant funding?
An Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Mid-Phase grant from the U.S. Department of Education is funding CSC’s expansion and a rigorous, independent evaluation of its model in partnership with Bellwether.
How many students will CSC reach by 2030?
Through the grant, CSC will scale its work to reach more than 15,000 K-8 students across DC, Maryland, and Virginia by 2030, with a focus on improving literacy outcomes for students furthest from opportunity.
What is Sophia AI?
Sophia is an AI coach for tutors built on CSC’s high-impact tutoring math curriculum, providing tutors across Grades 3–8 with timely, curriculum-aligned coaching to deepen content knowledge and improve math instruction.
What results has high-impact tutoring produced for DC students?
An analysis of CSC conducted by EmpowerK12 found that DC students who reached high-impact tutoring dosage — at least 90 minutes per week — made 44% more progress than expected, gaining the equivalent of 59 extra instructional days in math.
Where is CSC expanding next?
CSC has begun expanding its coalition with neighboring schools and districts across the DMV, building on its first partnerships in Maryland (College Park Academy) and Virginia (EduTutorVA).