On Wednesday, June 10, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) announced $7,477,005 in grant funding to 55 school districts and charter schools through the third round of funding in the New Jersey Learning Acceleration Program: High-Impact Tutoring Grant.
The grant funding targets districts where student proficiency rates in grades 3 to 8 remain below 50 percent. The preliminary grant awards – which range from $20,000 to $400,000, based on district enrollment and student performance data – are designed to support tutoring programs during the 2026-2027 school year. To see the full list of awardees, view the NJDOE’s press release.
High-impact tutoring programs funded under this grant are expected to incorporate research-based components, including:
- Frequent tutoring sessions: three or more times per week
- Small group instruction with highly qualified tutors
- Alignment to classroom instruction and standards
- Continuous use of data to monitor and adjust instruction
The initiative also allows tutors to use Artificial Intelligence to enhance the program – through scheduling or as a diagnostic tool to identify a student’s gaps in learning, for instance – while ensuring educators retain strong oversight.
Participating districts will use the funds to provide tutoring during and outside of the school day, including before- and after-school programs and through summer learning opportunities. Programs will be tailored to meet local needs, while aligning with statewide goals of improving student achievement and closing persistent opportunity gaps.
As part of the program, schools will track student participation and progress using both local assessment tools and statewide data systems to measure growth and impact. The NJDOE will continue to provide technical assistance, program guidance, and monitoring throughout the grant period to support successful implementation and ensure effective use of funds.
The $7.5 million of grant funding for high-impact tutoring was included in the FY2026 state budget. Governor Sherrill has recommended doubling the state funding amount for high-impact tutoring to $15 million in her proposed FY2027 state budget.
