Free 1-on-1 Online Tutoring

Connecting kids from under-resourced communities with exceptional tutors

Since 2012 · 501(c)(3) · learntobe.org

The Problem

America's kids are falling behind

  • 65% of US 4th graders read below proficient level (NAEP)
  • Low-income students are 2–3 grade levels behind their peers
  • Most schools stopped teaching kids to memorize multiplication tables — without automatic recall, kids hit a wall in fractions, algebra, and everything after
  • Functional illiteracy is rising even at the college level
65%
of 4th graders can't read proficiently
2–3
grade levels behind for low-income students
Our Solution

Free tutoring that meets kids where they are

🎯 1-on-1 Tutoring

Free online tutoring for K–12 students from under-resourced communities

🤝 Volunteer Tutors

Carefully matched volunteer tutors provide consistent, personalized support

📈 Proven Track Record

Since 2012: 15,000+ students served and 12,000+ tutors mobilized

The Science

Research-backed learning principles

🧠 Cognitive Load Theory

Working memory holds ~4 chunks for 15–30 seconds. When overloaded, learning stops. Small doses of instruction + immediate practice works.

📝 The Testing Effect

Retrieval practice (testing yourself) extends memory far more than re-reading or highlighting.

🔁 Spaced Repetition

Distributing practice over time dramatically improves long-term retention versus cramming.

⚡ Automaticity

Math facts must be automatic — retrieved from long-term memory, not calculated — to free working memory for higher-order thinking.

Sources: Sweller, Ayers & Kalyuga; Fuchs et al. 2013 RCT

Evidence It Works

When you apply the science, results follow

Alpha School

2 hours of AI-powered academics per day → students scoring in the 99th percentile on MAP tests

Jon Midget

30–40 problems per day → 97th percentile results through consistent practice

The Mississippi Miracle

State mandated structured literacy → reading scores rose above the national average

Math Academy

"What looks like laziness is actually cognitive overload"

— Justin Skycak

Our Approach

The LTB Pivot — focused, structured, human

  • Narrowing focus: K–9 Math, Reading, and Writing
  • Structured courses with mastery-based progression
  • Math fact fluency via Khan-style algorithms and spaced repetition
  • IXL curriculum integration for standards-aligned practice
  • Human tutors as guides — the secret sauce. Platform alone fails; people make the difference.

The Secret Sauce

Technology × Curriculum × Human Connection

Platforms without people don't work. LTB pairs the best of both.

Impact

Our numbers tell the story

15,000+
Students served all-time
12,000+
Volunteer tutors mobilized
K → Pre-Calc
Full subject range
  • Serving students from low-income households and foster organizations
  • Subjects: basic math and reading comprehension through precalculus

501(c)(3) · EIN: 26-1919770

Funding

How your investment makes an impact

🛠️ Platform Development

AI-powered tutor tools, structured curriculum, and math fact fluency engine

👩‍🏫 Tutor Recruitment & Training

Recruiting, vetting, and training volunteer tutors to deliver high-quality sessions

🎯 Student Matching & Support

Connecting students with the right tutor and providing ongoing support

💚 100% Free to Families

Every dollar ensures tutoring remains completely free for the kids who need it most

Join Us

"Every dollar funds free tutoring for kids who need it most"

learntobe.org

Ali Philbrick · Director of Operations

aliphilbrick88@gmail.com

501(c)(3) · EIN: 26-1919770