University Tutors for Seattle Schools

OUR MISSION

University Tutors for Seattle Schools (UTSS) seeks to increase the density of caring, highly-capable adults in public school classrooms to increase student achievement and support teacher effectiveness.

OUR STORY

“University Tutors” began as a professor’s vision. He believed that undergraduate and graduate students of Seattle’s universities could bring untapped academic talent and relational energy to support student achievement in Seattle public school (SPS) classrooms.

In 2012, UTSS served 8 schools on a $253,000 budget. Now UTSS manages over 80 tutors in 20 schools, operating on a $680,000 budget. During the 2017-2018 school year, UTSS had the most City of Seattle’s Families & Education Levy funded school partnerships of any community based organization.

OUR PROGRAMS TODAY

Today UTSS tutors supports its partner schools across Seattle in various ways. At Northgate Elementary, tutors run small group reading interventions, supplementing classroom literacy teaching. Cleveland STEM High School tutors facilitate homework help groups during lunch, while Chief Sealth High School tutors run a drop in tutoring Learning Lab. Teachers and tutors work together to support whole classroom environments at West Seattle Elementary, creating more opportunities and spaces for individualized support.

All of the school sites utilize tutors differently in order to best support their community’s needs. By allowing schools to personalize their tutors’ roles, UTSS recognizes that school personnel are the true experts of their students’ needs.

WHAT MAKES UTSS UNIQUE

• UTSS supports SPS students while providing school-based experience to tutors (many of whom are actively preparing for or interested in pursuing careers in education).
• Tutors contribute to instruction through authentic collaboration with teachers and staff.
• UTSS is an affordable option for schools to hire additional support staff members to work with students and staff during the school day
• Students build valuable relationships with near peer, college mentors.