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Ohio Statewide Program ('23-24)

Future Forward Ohio (1)

The Future Forward Ohio initiative ensures that the academic recovery of Ohio students remains a top priority, utilizing high-dosage tutoring to address learning gaps exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ohio Department of Education & Workforce
Future Forward Ohio Priorities

  • Based on mastery checks, 45.2% academic growth1 during the 2023-2024 school year (see Figure 1).

  • 51.6% increase in math mastery and 37.7% in ELA mastery2.

  • 63.2% of qualified students3 met key mastery metrics, showing broad success.

Ohio Case Study (Figure 1) | Cignition FY24

Ohio's Partnership: A Data-Driven Recovery

Ohio’s commitment to reversing the learning loss caused by the pandemic led to the creation of the Future Forward Ohio initiative, a comprehensive statewide effort focused on educational recovery. Central to this initiative was the implementation of high-dosage tutoring, which was identified as a key strategy to accelerate student learning in critical areas like math and English Language Arts (ELA). The program aimed to support over 50,000 students across a diverse range of districts.

The initiative was supported by House Bill 583, which established provisions for high-dosage tutoring as a cornerstone of the state’s academic recovery efforts. Backed by $26.1 million from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund, the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce sought to partner with tutoring providers that could meet the high demands of this recovery initiative. After a rigorous selection process, Cignition was awarded the opportunity to serve districts across Ohio during the 2023-2024 school year. The selection process emphasized several key criteria, including:

  • Alignment with Ohio's learning standards, ensuring that instruction was focused on the state's key academic benchmarks.
  • The ability to deliver both one-on-one and small-group instruction, allowing for flexibility in tutoring formats.
  • A commitment to data-driven interventions, ensuring that real-time student progress was continuously monitored and used to inform instructional adjustments.
  • Proven program success, with a demonstrated history of improving academic outcomes in similar settings.

By delivering the program online and during the academic day, we were able to provide the opportunity to receive tutoring to students who would not normally have access or perhaps have access limited to after-school or extra-curricular programs. Sessions were primarily group-led, enabling students to benefit from collaborative learning environments, with tutors adjusting their instruction in real time based on data feedback and mastery checks.

Each participating student engaged in targeted instruction based on their diagnostic assessments. Although the program was largely group-based, real-time mastery checks and ongoing assessments allowed tutors to tailor their approach to each group's needs.

Socioeconomic Factors and Targeted Interventions

Cignition’s program was designed to meet the diverse needs of Ohio’s student population, with particular emphasis on economically disadvantaged students, English learners (ELs), and students with disabilities. Ohio’s demographic diversity required tailored interventions to help students from various backgrounds excel academically. Using Appendix B data from the 2023-2024 school year, we observed key insights into how different student groups performed under the high-dosage tutoring model.

The program’s impact was particularly pronounced for students in economically disadvantaged districts. These districts reported a 13% higher math growth rate than more affluent areas. This growth was attributed to Cignition’s use of small-group instruction, which enabled tutors to tailor their teaching to the specific needs of each student. Additionally, consistent participation and high engagement rates in economically disadvantaged districts played a critical role in boosting academic outcomes. 

Students with English language learning needs and those with disabilities were a significant focus of Cignition’s interventions. According to data from district-specific reports, these underserved populations benefited from personalized, data-driven strategies designed to address their unique learning challenges. For English learners, for example, tailored literacy instruction led to a 42% improvement in literacy outcomes over the course of the school year. This progress was largely driven by real-time monitoring of student performance, allowing tutors to adjust instruction immediately to meet learning goals.

Similarly, students with disabilities experienced notable academic growth, with over 50% reaching key mastery metrics in math and ELA. This achievement highlights the effectiveness of Cignition’s targeted interventions, particularly in ensuring that instruction was aligned with each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals. The program adapted to each student’s unique learning needs by integrating data-driven decision-making and individualized feedback.

Overall, data from the 2023-2024 school year highlighted strong academic growth among students from economically disadvantaged communities, many of whom were eligible for free or reduced lunch. Across all participating districts, Cignition observed a 51.6% improvement in math mastery and a 37.7% improvement in ELA, showing strong progress for all students enrolled in the program (see Figures 2 and 3 for detailed subject-specific progress).

This level of progress is a testament to the program’s success in reaching students who may have otherwise struggled to meet state standards due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Ohio Case Study (Figure 2) | Cignition FY24
Ohio Case Study (Figure 3) | Cignition FY24
Cignition’s focus on small group instruction and real-time data monitoring ensured that interventions were responsive and effective, particularly for underserved student populations. These targeted interventions enabled significant academic progress and contributed to Ohio’s educational recovery efforts.

Continuous Improvement and Data-Driven Success

Cignition’s data collection practices were critical in adapting the program to meet the specific needs of Ohio’s diverse student population. From the start of the 2023-2024 school year, data collection was embedded into every tutoring session through the use of mastery checks and real-time feedback tools, which informed instructional strategies and allowed for immediate adjustments. Key metrics such as contact hours, participation rates, and attendance played a significant role in driving student outcomes.

For instance, students who attended 90% or more of their scheduled sessions achieved a remarkable 78% standards mastery rate, far surpassing the performance of lower attendance groups. This illustrates the direct impact of consistent engagement on academic success. Additionally, as demonstrated in Figure 4, there is a clear correlation between higher attendance and participation rates and improved standards mastery, highlighting the importance of regular participation in the program (see Figure 4).

Ohio Case Study (Figure 4) | Cignition FY24
Cignition’s commitment to data-driven decision-making was a core component of the program’s success. Student engagement metrics, including attendance, participation, and contact hours, were monitored continuously throughout the year. These metrics, combined with academic progress data from mastery checks, ensured that the program remained flexible and could be adjusted based on students' evolving needs.

Monthly meetings between Cignition’s program management team and the Ohio Department of Education allowed for continuous performance data review. These reviews led to targeted improvements in key areas such as attendance and participation, enabling the program to respond quickly to emerging challenges. Collaborating with school administrators and teachers, Cignition leveraged a real-time data dashboard to provide detailed insights into student progress toward Ohio’s academic standards. These insights enabled educators to make informed decisions about instructional focus, ensuring that tutoring sessions addressed the most critical areas of need.

By the end of the academic year, these continuous adjustments resulted in 63.2% of qualified students meeting their mastery goals, demonstrating the effectiveness of Cignition’s adaptive approach. The program’s flexibility and reliance on real-time data helped ensure that even the districts facing the greatest participation challenges were able to make meaningful academic gains.

Looking Ahead: 2024 - 2025 Expansion

As Cignition enters its second year of partnership with Ohio schools, the program is well-positioned to build on the success of the 2023-2024 school year. One of the most significant changes in the upcoming year is the earlier implementation of tutoring services. Unlike the previous year, when the program had a staggered start across various districts, this year’s deployment will begin in the early fall, allowing for increased dosage hours and more consistent engagement throughout the academic year.

This earlier start is expected to yield even greater results, as districts will have more time to integrate Cignition’s data-driven tutoring into their broader instructional strategies. Additionally, schools and districts that are now familiar with the program will be able to use its tools faster and more effectively, leading to smoother implementation and stronger student outcomes.

Furthermore, with ongoing collaboration between Cignition and the Ohio Department of Education, the program will continue to evolve based on real-time data and feedback from educators. As we look ahead to the 2024-2025 school year, we anticipate higher standards mastery rates, greater student engagement, and continued improvements in math and ELA proficiency.

Click the button below to dive deeper into the formal data summary of our statewide program and review individual district outcomes. Explore more detailed data substantiating Cignition’s efficacy in delivering high-dosage tutoring across Ohio.

1 This figure represents the overall percentage increase in student progress across key standards in math and ELA. The growth is calculated by comparing the initial baseline mastery checks (conducted at the program's start) with the final mastery assessments. This growth indicates a significant improvement in students’ understanding of core concepts, as measured by the difference between their baseline and final proficiency scores.

2 These subject-specific improvements highlight the effectiveness of Cignition’s tutoring program in helping students improve their mastery of key math and ELA standards. Math and ELA mastery scores were calculated based on the percentage of students who demonstrated proficiency growth over the school year, moving from “Emerging” or “Partially Proficient” to “Proficient” on the four-point mastery scale.

3 This refers to the percentage of students who achieved or exceeded the program’s academic growth goal, which was set at a minimum of a 33% improvement in their standards progress score. Qualified students participated in at least one full mastery check series and attended sessions regularly. This figure underscores the program’s overall efficacy in driving student success, particularly among those who remained consistently engaged.

Glossary and Definitions

  • Academic Growth: Refers to the improvement in student performance from baseline mastery checks to the final mastery assessments, calculated as the percentage increase in proficiency.

  • Math and ELA Mastery: Students' subject-specific proficiency growth in math and ELA is determined by their ability to demonstrate consistent mastery of standards.

  • Qualified Students: Students who participated in enough sessions and assessments to provide valid data for measuring growth. These students completed at least one full mastery check series, and their progress was monitored consistently.

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