A Districtwide Approach to Flexible, Targeted Academic Support
School districts are looking for practical ways to help students while managing teacher shortages, large class sizes, and a wide range of academic needs. For many schools, that means finding supplemental resources that fit into the school day, reinforce classroom instruction, and expand student academic support. For district leaders exploring online tutoring for K-12 schools, Norfolk Public Schools offers an example of how flexible access, structured intervention, and school-level customization can work together.
This model is especially relevant to district leaders, curriculum teams, intervention specialists, and school administrators seeking flexible K-12 tutoring support.
During the 2025–2026 school year, Norfolk Public Schools partnered with Brainfuse to expand online tutoring across the district. The program combined on-demand academic help, high-dosage tutoring, small-group instruction, Writing Lab support, and learning plans aligned to school and student needs.
Norfolk Public Schools + Brainfuse: Program Snapshot
During the 2025–2026 school year, Norfolk Public Schools used Brainfuse to support students across dozens of schools through a mix of on-demand tutoring, Writing Lab support, and structured high-dosage tutoring.
Program highlights included:
- 40,000+ live tutoring sessions
- 2,526 students supported
- 41 schools using on-demand tutoring and Writing Lab support
- 21 schools using high-dosage tutoring
- 41 on-site visits
Together, these services helped schools expand academic support beyond the classroom while giving teachers another way to provide more individualized support to students.
How Norfolk Public Schools Used Brainfuse Online Tutoring
Norfolk schools used Brainfuse in several ways depending on each school’s goals, schedule, and student needs. Some schools focused on immediate academic help. Others used structured tutoring sessions tied to intervention goals, diagnostic results, or Virginia Standards of Learning, also known as SOLs.
In K-12 education, high-dosage tutoring and high-impact tutoring are often used to describe structured, recurring tutoring that provides students with consistent academic support. For clarity, this post uses high-dosage tutoring when referring to Norfolk’s scheduled tutoring sessions.
Brainfuse learning plans gave schools three flexible options:
- Diagnostic-driven learning plans based on assessment results
- Custom learning plans aligned to school goals, priority standards, or intervention needs
- Grade-level learning plans designed to reinforce classroom instruction
This flexibility allowed schools to connect online tutoring to local priorities instead of using a one-size-fits-all model.
Diagnostic-Driven Learning Plans
A diagnostic-driven learning plan uses assessment data to identify specific skill gaps and guide tutoring sessions around the concepts students need to strengthen.
At Norfolk Public Schools, several schools used Virginia-aligned diagnostic-driven learning plans to support students performing below proficiency in math and reading. These schools included Little Creek Elementary School, Lindenwood Elementary School, and Larrymore Elementary School.
At Little Creek Elementary, participating students completed a Brainfuse diagnostic. The results were used to create individual learning plans that targeted students’ areas of need through one-on-one tutoring three times per week for 30 minutes.
This approach helped schools use tutoring time more intentionally by connecting each session to clearly identified learning needs.
Custom Learning Plans
Custom learning plans allow school leaders and teachers to align Brainfuse tutoring with specific instructional priorities, intervention goals, and upcoming SOL-tested standards.
At Suburban Park Elementary School, Academy at Rosemont, and Chesterfield Elementary School, customized learning plans helped focus tutoring around priority skills and student groups. This gave schools the ability to tailor support based on pacing, classroom goals, and test preparation needs.
Grade-Level Learning Plans
Grade-level learning plans helped schools reinforce core classroom instruction and give students consistent exposure to Virginia-aligned grade-level standards.
At Camp Allen Elementary School, Ruffner School, and Academy for Discovery at Lakewood, students received additional practice in core subjects such as math, reading, science, and social science while strengthening foundational skills and confidence.
How On-Demand Tutoring and High-Dosage Tutoring Worked Together
Norfolk Public Schools used both flexible and structured tutoring models.
On-demand tutoring gave students access to immediate help when they needed support with classroom assignments, homework, writing, or test preparation.
High-dosage tutoring, sometimes referred to as high-impact tutoring, provided scheduled, recurring support for targeted student groups. This model gave students more consistent time with tutors and allowed schools to focus on intervention goals, priority standards, and SOL preparation.
Using both models allowed schools to meet different needs. A student who needed quick help with an assignment could use on-demand tutoring, while a student who needed more intensive support could participate in recurring high-dosage tutoring sessions.
Academic Impact: Student Growth in Math
At Little Creek Elementary, district-reported STAR Math results showed promising student growth over about a two-month period. According to results shared by Sandra McQuerry of Little Creek Elementary, approximately 45% of participating students showed growth of five months or more on the STAR Math test. In addition, 25% of participants had grown by at least one year.
These results show how diagnostic data, consistent tutoring, and individualized learning plans can work together to support math intervention.
Why Consistent Human-Guided Tutoring Matters
Consistent tutoring can help students build trust, confidence, and a stronger sense of ownership over their learning.
Cassandra Smith of Academy of International Studies at Rosemont described Brainfuse as a resource that provided students with a personal guide through a subject that can feel overwhelming. She noted that consistent tutors and targeted support helped students build both skills and confidence.
Hope Settle of Booker T. Washington High School also noted that Brainfuse tutors guide students rather than simply providing answers, helping students take ownership of their learning.
That distinction matters, especially as AI tools become more common in education. Students still benefit from human guidance that helps them think critically, ask questions, build understanding, and apply what they learn independently. Brainfuse tutoring is designed to support that process by helping students strengthen skills, build confidence, and take ownership of their work.
How Online Tutoring for School Districts Supports Intervention
Districtwide intervention is most effective when schools can connect academic support to clear instructional goals. For Norfolk Public Schools, that meant using Brainfuse to help strengthen student proficiency in literacy, math, and science, with a focus on boosting achievement in literacy and math.
Brainfuse gave schools a flexible way to provide targeted support across multiple campuses while still adapting tutoring to each school’s schedule, staffing model, intervention goals, and student population.
- Flexible implementation across schools: Although Brainfuse was implemented districtwide, schools had flexibility in how they used tutoring. Some schools focused on high-dosage tutoring during the instructional day with targeted SOL preparation or small-group support, while others used on-demand tutoring. Access to Spanish-speaking tutors and differentiated learning plans also helped schools support multilingual learners and tailor tutoring to students’ academic needs.
- On-demand academic support: Students could connect with tutors for immediate help in core subjects, including help with classroom assignments, homework, writing, and test preparation.
- Writing Lab support: Writing Lab gave students another way to strengthen literacy skills through feedback on written assignments.
- Structured high-dosage tutoring intervention: Scheduled tutoring sessions gave targeted student groups consistent intervention, including students preparing for SOL assessments.
- Data-informed support: Reports, participation data, and diagnostic-driven learning plans helped school and district leaders monitor engagement, identify trends, and align tutoring to student learning needs.
- 24/7 study tools: Students also had access to standards-aligned lessons, videos, and practice tests for skill-building and test preparation.
- Implementation partnership and student engagement: Ongoing collaboration, training, and on-site support helped schools monitor implementation, adjust learning plans, troubleshoot challenges, and strengthen program awareness. Attendance challenges, student incentives, and recognition opportunities also encouraged consistent participation and helped build a positive tutoring culture across campuses.
What Other Districts Can Learn from Norfolk Public Schools
Norfolk Public Schools’ tutoring model offers several takeaways for districts looking to expand academic support.
Use data to guide tutoring
Diagnostic results and assessment data can help schools identify skill gaps and focus tutoring sessions where students need the most support.
Offer both immediate help and structured intervention
On-demand tutoring and high-dosage tutoring serve different purposes. Together, they give districts a flexible way to support homework help, skill review, test preparation, and targeted intervention.
Keep support connected to school goals
Custom learning plans help tutoring align with pacing, instruction, and intervention priorities.
Build consistency where students need deeper support
Recurring sessions with consistent tutors can help students build confidence, strengthen skills, and stay engaged over time.
Support implementation, not just access
Training, on-site visits, communication, and school-level collaboration can help tutoring become part of the instructional routine instead of a separate resource students rarely use.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Tutoring in Schools
How can online tutoring support K-12 intervention?
What is high-dosage tutoring?
High-dosage tutoring is structured academic support delivered multiple times per week, often with consistent tutors and a focused learning plan. It is designed to provide more intensive support than occasional homework help.
Are high-dosage tutoring and high-impact tutoring the same thing?
High-dosage tutoring and high-impact tutoring are often used interchangeably. Both generally refer to structured, recurring tutoring that gives students consistent academic support over time. These models often include scheduled sessions, targeted learning goals, and progress monitoring.
What is the difference between on-demand tutoring and high-dosage tutoring?
How can districts measure online tutoring impact?
Scalable Online Tutoring for K-12 Schools
Norfolk Public Schools used Brainfuse to expand student support across the district through on-demand tutoring, high-dosage tutoring, Writing Lab support, and learning plans aligned to student needs.
For K-12 districts, scalable online tutoring can provide a flexible way to support intervention, reinforce classroom instruction, and help students build confidence with guidance from real tutors.
To learn how Brainfuse can support your schools, schedule a conversation with our team.
