Learn To Be

The LTB Pivot

Making Every Tutoring Hour Count

01 / 12
The Assumption
"I used to believe any tutoring was better than no tutoring."
  • We matched kids with tutors and let them work on whatever
  • Homework help, test prep, general support
  • We assumed good intentions + time = good outcomes
02 / 12
Reality Check

We Were Wrong

65%
of U.S. 4th graders read below proficient
73%
of 8th graders below proficient in math

But the data tells a different story.

03 / 12
The Research Agrees

"You can't throw tutoring at the problem. It has to be part of a very intentional system."

Jessica Reid Sliwerski, founder of Ignite Reading, at the Accelerate conference

"Some studies found negative outcomes from tutoring. Tutoring for its own sake isn't magical. A well-trained tutor with a good curriculum in a well-designed program is a game-changer."

Karen Vaites, education researcher

04 / 14
What the Data Shows — The 74 Million
85%
of students who mastered reading fundamentals in 1st grade were still on track a year later
0%
of students who fell behind could catch up. They were just too far behind.

"Many kids start our program still not knowing basic kindergarten skills, like letter names and sounds." Jessica Reid Sliwerski, Ignite Reading (Johns Hopkins study, 13 MA school districts)

05 / 14
The Math Crisis
1 in 12

UC freshmen couldn't pass remedial math

  • UCSD Academic Senate report. These students got into a UC school.
  • If UC students struggle, imagine the kids we serve.
04 / 12
The Reading Crisis

"Functionally Illiterate"

  • SAT reading passages are simpler than 10 years ago
  • College professors publicly saying students can't read
  • Not hyperbole. Diagnosis.
  • Professors report even their own kids struggle
05 / 12
What This Means for LTB
76%

of our families earn under $40K/year

  • If privileged kids are falling behind, our kids are drowning
  • Generic homework help isn't enough anymore
  • We need to be prescriptive
06 / 12
The Pivot

The 50/50 Model

50% Fundamentals

Structured skill building. Reading fluency. Math facts mastery.

50% Homework

Current schoolwork. Real assignments. Immediate needs.

Not abandoning homework help. Augmenting it with structured skill building.

07 / 12
Reading Fundamentals
150 WPM

The fluency threshold

  • Below 150 WPM, all cognitive effort goes to decoding
  • No comprehension. No learning. No progress in ANY subject.
  • Our job: get every student above 150 WPM first
08 / 12
Math Fundamentals
54

math facts in a single Grade 6 problem

  • Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. Automatic recall.
  • Without math facts, students can't do algebra or geometry
  • Every minute counting on fingers is a minute lost on the real problem
09 / 12
What Changes

A Real System

  • Structured curriculum, not ad hoc
  • Assessment at intake: reading fluency + math facts baseline
  • Clear milestones: 150 WPM, math facts mastery
  • Tutors follow a playbook, not just wing it
  • Progress tracking dashboards
10 / 12
What Stays the Same

Our Soul

  • Free tutoring for families who need it
  • 1-on-1 human connection
  • Meeting students where they are
  • Our mission: every child deserves access to quality education
11 / 12
The Ask

Let's build this together.

100
students in the pilot
1
quarter to prove it
12 / 12