LEARNS Act Tutoring Grants (High-Impact & Literacy)

LEARNS Act Tutoring Grants (High-Impact & Literacy) is sponsored by Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Arkansas state tutoring grant programs for K–12 students, focusing on high-impact tutoring and literacy for K–3 at-risk readers.

ADE Commissioner's Memo - LS-27-001 - High-Impact Tutoring Grant Application Open for 2026-2027 School Year School Personnel Directory High-Impact Tutoring Grant Application Open for 2026-2027 School Year Office of Learning Services Assistant Principal; Assistant Superintendent; Bookkeepers; Curriculum Coordinators; Data Stewards (SIS; eSchool; eFinance; TRIAND); General Business Managers; Principals; Superintendents Primary Contact Information Amy.

Counts@ade. arkansas. gov Secondary Contact/s Information amy.

hindsman@ade. arkansas. gov isaac.

cross@ade. arkansas. gov The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is continuing the High-Impact Tutoring Grant Program for all public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools for the 2026-2027 school year.

As established by the LEARNS Act, this program will provide grants to districts and charter schools to cover major costs associated with delivering high-impact tutoring services during school for eligible students in grades K-12 for Math and/or ELA during the 2026-2027 school year. Participating districts are expected to leverage grant funding to provide support and resources for high-impact tutoring and submit tutoring data to DESE.

Intent to Submit due by August 7, 2026. Applications are due by August 21, 2026. Research shows that high-impact tutoring is one of the most effective interventions to accelerate student learning.

Tutoring programs are generally considered high-impact when they are: Data-driven with student results, characteristics, and progress guiding decision-making; Provided in small groups (i.e., four or fewer); Provided for a minimum of three times per week, at least 30 minutes a session, or a comparable model that provides direct tutoring based on specific skills needed; Provided by a consistent tutor or limited, consistent set of tutors that sustain strong relationships with students; Implemented during the school day, rather than as a before or after school program; and Supplemental to and aligned to core academic instruction and not a replacement for such instruction.

Supplemental instruction may include small group instructional time where students might otherwise be working independently. Interested districts should consider how they can implement these components of high-impact tutoring into their program design. Districts and open-enrollment public charter schools are encouraged to partner with an approved tutoring provider to help design, deliver, and monitor tutoring services.

The list of approved providers for the high-impact tutoring pilot program is available here . Eligible students should be identified by the district based on their state assessment scores, interim assessment scores, curriculum-based measures, or surveys.

Districts may use funds for: Contracting for products and services related to high-impact tutoring from the approved provider list; Hiring or contracting for tutors or providing stipends or other incentives to paraprofessionals, retired teachers, and community organizations to ensure maximum tutoring capacity; Administrative expenses, including as-needed additional staff to support high-impact tutoring implementation, and Costs associated with technology-enabled tutoring solutions and devices.

Additionally, selected participants will receive technical support and additional guidance from DESE. Participating districts may be required to attend awardee webinars and check-ins with DESE staff. Participating districts are required to submit tutoring data, including the number of students eligible and served, student attendance and dosage, and student growth, to the state.

DESE provides a template, guidance, and support for submitting data. Selected districts and open-enrollment public charter schools are expected to deliver high-impact tutoring to eligible students during the 2026-2026 school year. District Application Process Districts and open-enrollment public charter schools currently participating in the High-Impact Tutoring Program Grant for the 2025-2026 school year are encouraged to reapply.

Prior participation is not required to apply or participate in the program for the 2026-2027 school year. New grant funding is available for the 2026-2027 school year. Approval for currently participating grantees is contingent upon submission of requested implementation data to DESE.

For 2026-27, DESE will contribute 70% of the estimated funds needed to support HIT to selected applicants. Districts will be responsible for 30% of the total cost of the High-Impact Tutoring program; this 30% match can be in cash, in-kind, or a combination of both.

Priority status will be given to HIT applications that: Prioritize grades and content areas as indicated by the SY26 Summative ATLAS Assessment Establish an Outcomes-Based Contracting[1] (OBC) - Required submission of OBC Contract to DESE for final approval: Past participants in Arkansas Forward OBC Cohort; Current participants in Arkansas Forward OBC Cohort; or Districts opting to engage in OBC independently.

Participate in EIR HIT Pilot Program DESE will hold an informational webinar on the program and application process. Please find registration information here . DESE will hold an information webinar for tutoring providers.

Please find registration information here . Districts interested in applying should submit an Intent to Submit by August 7, 2026 and a completed application to the AR High-Impact Tutoring Application Form by August 21, 2026. DESE should notify districts of their award status by September 1, 2026.

Please contact ade. tutoring@ade. arkansas.

gov with questions about the application or program requirements. Important Application Materials: High-Impact Tutoring RFA 2026-2027 (attached) 2026-2027 High-Impact Tutoring Grant School Application Budget Spreadsheet with Matching Funding Information HIT Application Submission Form HIT_RFA_SY27_Final_100821.

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