#  Report: Randomized Controlled Trial of BookNook Virtual ELA Tutoring (SY24–25) 

 



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 **Size:** 1.44 MB 

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 **Date:** 06/15/2026 

 

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Tutoring, long recognized as an effective strategy for boosting academic achievement, has surged in popularity amid pandemic-related learning declines.

Virtual tutoring, in particular, holds the promise of expanding the pool of available tutors beyond local supply and reducing logistical challenges like travel time. At the same time, virtual programs can involve different startup costs and may operate differently than traditional, in-person models.

In 2024, after an initial pilot year, Arkansas launched the Arkansas High-Impact Tutoring Program, which provided schools with funding for tutoring initiatives. With support from the nonprofit Accelerate, the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University partnered with two Arkansas districts to study **BookNook**, one of the most commonly selected tutoring providers under HITPP.

During the 2024–2025 school year, CEPR conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to examine whether 30 minutes of virtual BookNook ELA tutoring, three times per week for 12 weeks, could improve student achievement in ELA (the primary outcome) or math, or increase student attendance. The study also compared the impact of a tutor-to-student ratio of 1:2 vs.1:3.

**The study ultimately did not detect impacts on these student outcomes**. However, the findings offer important **insights into how implementation affects the ability to deliver intended tutoring dosages,** as well as the **cost implications of the different implementation strategies** used in each of the districts.

Read the [research brief](https://cepr.harvard.edu/resource/research-brief-does-virtual-booknook-tutoring-improve-student-ela-achievement) and learn more about the [Arkansas Tutoring Project](https://cepr.harvard.edu/arkansas-tutoring-project).



 

 

 See also:- [ Researcher ](/audience/researcher)
- [ School/District Leader ](/audience/schooldistrict-leader)
- [ High-Dosage Tutoring ](/focus-areas/high-dosage-tutoring)
- [ Arkansas Tutoring Project ](/projects/arkansas-tutoring-project)
- [ Research and Reports ](/resource-type/research-report)
- [ 2026 ](/year/2026)
- [ K12 ](/sector/k12)