Grants for Innovative Tutoring and Educational Technology
Chosen from over 160 applicants, 14 tutoring and education technology organizations have been awarded grants aimed at implementing research-backed solutions in schools nationwide.
Accelerate has announced its awardees for two significant grant programs: the Call for Effective Technology (CET) and Evidence for Impact (EFI). These initiatives serve to enhance evidence around tutoring and classroom technology, assisting states and districts in applying successful strategies in real-world educational settings.
High-dosage tutoring strategies, coupled with effective educational technology, have been identified as key methods for boosting student learning. However, successful implementation is often hampered by various challenges such as time constraints, staffing shortages, and integration issues within the typical school day. Accelerate aims to help schools overcome these hurdles by providing grantees with access to independent research, established standards, and a comprehensive understanding of effective solutions. The goal is to equip educational leaders with the necessary tools and evidence to expand effective solutions, especially in communities that have historically faced under-resourcing.
The CET program focuses on rolling out AI-powered and other educational tools in public school classrooms during the upcoming academic year, enabling teachers to personalize their instruction and optimize their time. The initiatives showcase some of the most promising educational technologies available today, which include immersive virtual reality for language learning, voice-assisted math tutoring, and AI platforms offering personalized feedback for writing and math support. By incorporating these technologies, projects aim to emulate one-on-one instruction and provide teachers with real-time data, further enhancing equal access to high-quality education. Each selected project is collaborating with an independent research partner to evaluate usability, integration into the school day, and early student progress. Grants awarded through this program range from $150,000 to $200,000.
Kevin Huffman, CEO of Accelerate, remarked, "States need immediate solutions. The CET and EFI initiatives empower public schools to implement proven tutoring and educational technologies effectively, providing clarity on what methods work best for various student populations. This way, they can confidently scale these solutions."
2025 CET Awardees
Among the awarded projects are:
- ALTER Math, a project of the University of Utah
- EnlightenAI
- Goblins
- IMMERSE
- LitLab.ai
- Paloma Learning
- Podsie, a project by Teaching Lab
- Quill.org
- Third Space Learning
- Varsity Tutors
Focus of the EFI Grants
The EFI grant program prioritizes high-dosage tutoring—offering consistent, frequent tutoring sessions either one-on-one or in small group formats as part of the school day. This year’s grants will explore which students derive the most advantages from tutoring, in which subjects and grades, and which specific program designs yield the best outcomes, focusing on aspects like group size and duration of sessions. Each EFI project can receive up to $250,000 for implementing their initiatives during the academic year, with evaluations financed by Accelerate, building upon nearly 65 research studies conducted, including more than 20 randomized controlled trials since 2022.
2025 EFI Awardees
This year’s EFI recipients include:
- Carnegie Learning
- Chapter One
- Math-A-Matics Tutoring
- Tutored by Teachers
Research Collaboration
Research partners involved in these initiatives include reputable organizations such as Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research, Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Research & Reform in Education, Mathematica, MC2 Education, and several others. Through collaboration, these entities contribute to delivering insightful evaluations of the projects sponsored by Accelerate.
Each EFI project is responsible for adhering to Accelerate’s Data Alignment and Tutoring Assessment Standards, with Littera overseeing data collection and its interoperability.
Conclusion and Future Directions
The CET grant enables innovative initiatives like Podsie to explore the potential of AI tools in enhancing personalized math instruction, providing critical insights into how real-time feedback can improve learning outcomes universally. Concurrently, these grant programs encapsulate Accelerate’s wider vision: identifying successful strategies, funding capable partners to execute them, and supporting state-level educational reforms that yield genuine results for students. By harmonizing research, grantmaking, and educational policy, Accelerate bridges the gap between research findings and practical classroom applications, ensuring measurable advancements in student learning across the nation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the purpose of the CET and EFI grant programs?
The CET and EFI grant programs are designed to enhance educational outcomes by funding innovative tutoring and technology solutions in schools, backed by rigorous research.
2. How many organizations received grants in 2025?
A total of 14 organizations received grants aimed at implementing research-backed solutions in education.
3. What types of projects are supported through these grants?
Projects include AI-enhanced learning tools, immersive VR for language learning, and high-dosage tutoring, aimed at improving student engagement and learning outcomes.
4. How do the grants support historically underserved communities?
The grants provide access to proven educational tools and strategies that are essential for overcoming inequities in educational opportunities in underserved areas.
5. What research organizations are involved in these initiatives?
Notable research partners include Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and Mathematica, who help evaluate the effectiveness of the grant-funded projects.
