Curriculum

What makes tutoring work is the use of evidence-based models; intensive and ongoing academic support; and highly qualified tutors. They all add up to inspired, fulfilled lifelong learners. An evidence based model is:

• Backed by strong evidence of effectiveness
• Based on high quality of studies
• Based on quantity of evidence

To determine whether a curriculum is research validated/evidenced based, we can seek guidance from the definition of scientifically based in NCLB. 

The No Child Left Behind Act defines the term 'scientifically based research' (A) means research that involves the application of rigorous, systematic and objective procedures to obtain reliable and valid knowledge relevant to education activities and programs; and (B) includes research that:

• Employs systematic, empirical methods that draw on observation or experiment
• Involves rigorous data analyses that are adequate to test the stated hypotheses and justify the general conclusions drawn
• Relies on measurements or observational methods that provide reliable and valid data across evaluators and observers, across multiple measurements and observations, and across studies by the same or different investigators
• Is evaluated using experimental or quasi-experimental designs in which individuals, entities, programs or activities are assigned to different conditions and with appropriate controls to evaluate the effects of the condition of interest, with a preference for random-assignment experiments, or other designs to the extent that those designs contain within-condition or across-condition controls
• Ensures experimental studies are presented in sufficient detail and clarity to allow for replication or, at a minimum, offer the opportunity to build systematically on their findings
• Has been accepted by a peer-reviewed journal or approved by a panel of independent experts through a comparably rigorous, objective and scientific review."