Educational Reinforcements: An Examination of Publicly Funded K-12 Tutoring

In its first five years of implementation, the federal government's Supplemental Educational Services (SES) program has steadily expanded in terms of participation, reaching approximately 585,000 students in 2005-06. Nevertheless, many of the program's stakeholders continue to describe SES as a baffling and byzantine process, evincing uncertain objectives, inadequate definitions, and conflicting incentives. To better understand the dynamics of this market, Eduventures conducted a research study based on a nationwide survey of parents whose children participated in SES programs. With this report, Eduventures identifies the SES market's unique characteristics, trends, challenges, and drivers, and highlights factors that may help lead SES providers to success.