A tutoring program is offering virtual classes to help Hawaii students catch up and stay ahead this summer before returning to school next year.
The Hawaii nonprofit HawaiiKidsCAN teamed up with the virtual tutoring program, Air Tutors, to create a statewide program that gives students from kindergarten to 12th grade a learning opportunity that is more one-on-one with educators from around the country.
The collaboration ensures that students in Hawaii are matched to an expert educator who will focus on advancing the students’ skillsets and help them grow as individuals.
HawaiiKidsCAN Executive Director David Sun-Miyashiro developed the nonprofit in 2017 as a way to get more resources and programs to all Hawaii students.
The Hawaii tutoring program developed in response to learning loss experienced by students due to COVID-19.
“Even kids who were outgoing and energetic before the pandemic are now unengaged and find it hard to pay attention,” Sun-Miyashiro said. “Tutoring offers a more personalized learning experience that can help students feel reconnected to learning. It bridges gaps that may not have connected during the school year.”
While Air Tutors delivers specific content and tutors to the students, HawaiiKidsCAN reaches out to schools, specifically in rural or low-income areas, to see what students, teachers and parents need.
“A lot of what I do now is find out directly from parents, teachers and students to see what the needs are and connecting them to partners that can help,” Sun-Miyahsiro said. “What I’ve heard from local families is that it’s been hard for students to stay on track in core academic subjects, and once you fall off the path, it can be hard to catch up quickly.”
“Once tutors are paired with students, they work together through the six-week cohort,” said Air Tutors Growth Lead Megan Rafferty Anderson. “We have great data that shows that consistent small group learning helps build better learning where peer engagement and interaction is at the core.”
According to Rafferty Anderson, over 60% of tutors have a master’s degree or a Ph.D, and over 50% have more than 10 years of teaching experience.
“We have quality educators that we can bring to communities where students may not have in-person resources, which is really valuable,” Rafferty Anderson said. “We hope to hire more local teachers from Hawaii to help elevate more students, especially Native Hawaiian students.”
Students in kindergarten through eighth grade will be focused on math and English during the summer cohort, while ninth through 12th grades will prepare for the ACT and SAT tests and work on college essays and applications.
“Students often go through a summer slide where they lose two to three months of learning gains, so the summer program will help keep kids engaged,” Sun-Miyashiro said. “The program can help them feel supported, so they can grow their confidence before they come back to school and dive back in.”
The Hawaii tutoring summer session will run from Monday, June 5 to Friday, July 21. Students will be placed in a small group with kids their age with one tutor who will meet with the class virtually on a schedule throughout the cohort.
“Another cool aspect of the program is that kids are paired with others across the state. There is a cross-community dynamic that gets to happen,” Rafferty Anderson said. “They work with others and learn about each other’s experiences, which creates empathy and connectivity.”
The typical student experience of two tutoring sessions per week for six weeks costs around $400. However, there are full and partial scholarships available with costs based on services needed and financial circumstances.
The priority deadline to register for the summer cohort and apply for scholarships is Wednesday. Registration and details can be found at hawaiitutoring.org.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
