Data Page | Gradeaplusinc

2024: At A Glance

88% of participants maintained or improved their academic performance

We launched the Family Development Program

Added part-time social workers to work with families and their children to offer more in-depth support
Emphasis on providing more parent/caregiver education and support

We implemented the iXL Assessment tool

Used to determine students' strengths and weaknesses in Language Arts and Math
Allows us to development interventions tailored to each student's unique needs and development

We were awarded $150,000 in new grants from Boone County

First-time Children's Fund Award
The Boone County Grassroots Funding Opportunity provides additional funding for our pilot Family Development Program

Impact

Grade A Plus deeply impacts the lives of children attending the program. Our tutoring helps students improve both academic performance and confidence.

70% of students increase confidence in problem solving

We provide up to 60 additional hours of 1:1 instructional support beyond what k-12 students receive in the school setting

81% increase in motivation for learning

GAP is intentionally designed to be a learning community for youth of all ages

95% of our college student volunteers indicate an increase in understanding the ways in which families made vulnerable by generational poverty adn systemic racism engage with their education

88% maintain or improve academic performance

"This is a wonderful, helpful and caring program. My child enjoys coming to the program and getting the extra help she needs and making new friends here."

- Family Leader

Q: How does tutoring help you with learning math or reading?

"By reading with me, reading more, and learning to read faster... it gives me new ways to solve problems and answer questions."

Q: What do you like about working with college students?

"The tutors help me understand the math better. They really explain the question and help me to go through it step by step."

Q: What did you like about enrichment?

"I learned to be a leader, to be kind and bold!"

Our Tutors

32 Hours

Tutors worked between 15 and 125 hours in 2024, with an average of 32 hours. To maintain ratios of no more than 1:2 and to respect student hours, volunteers serve approximately twice a week for 10 weeks a term.

30-50 Tutors

Tutors fulfilled field experience and service-learning requirements for their own educational programs. GAP is fortunate to have an average of 31 tutors, which is between 30 and 50 volunteer tutors per Fall and Spring term. In 2024, GAP had over 50 student tutors.

100% Very Good to Excellent

All tutors earned an overall evaluation of very good to excellent based on their tutoring Grade A Plus students. Family leaders report good communication between tutors and students. Presently, the communications have begun to include the teachers of the students in the program.

Hear from our Tutors:

"I come from a place where diversity of any kind is not prevalent. My exposure to topics like race, religion, and language are limited. Therefore, when beginning with Grade A Plus, I was not confident in my ability to work with a diverse group of students. However, I became surrounded by a group of tutors and leaders who encouraged and educated me on how to handle and work with all types of students."

Award Winning Service to the Community

2020

Kindness to Youth Award

Missouri Business Alerts & Children's Grove

Progress in Education Award

Columbia Missourian Progress Awards Committee

2021

Columbia's Best Tutoring Service

Inside Magazine

Debin Benish Outstanding Businesswomen of the Year Award

Columbia Chamber of Commerce

2022

Exemplary Program of Excellence

American Mathematical Society

Columbia's Best Tutoring Service

Inside Magazine

2023-2025 Goals

Organizational Goal

Increase the capacity of the organization to facilitate more community engagement from a diverse population of community members.

Program Goal

Increase the number of tutors and increase the number of sessions available for academic and enrichment support.

Financial Goal

Increase community participation in the MO Tax Credit program, develop a capital funding campaign to secure a facility for increased operations, and expand staffing to accommodate the demand for services and expansion.