Across the country, K–12 schools are searching for new ways to help students recover academically and thrive. Pandemic-related learning loss, ongoing teacher shortages, and widening achievement gaps have created urgent, compounding challenges, especially in under-resourced districts.

But there’s a promising solution hiding in plain sight: local college students.

When K–12 districts partner with nearby colleges and universities, they unlock access to a powerful and often untapped resource: trained, high-achieving college students who are ready to tutor younger learners. The result is a flexible, high-impact support model that benefits both sides.

Why It Works

College students bring more than academic knowledge to K–12 tutoring. They bring relatability, lived experience, and community context. Often from similar backgrounds or the same neighborhoods as the students they serve, these tutors build trust quickly and serve as near-peer mentors who students can see themselves in.

Research shows that near-peer models increase student engagement and motivation. When K–12 students work with someone closer to their age who has successfully navigated similar courses, the learning feels more approachable and more achievable.

The Benefits Go Both Ways

Tutoring isn’t just support; it’s a skill-building opportunity. For college students, serving as a tutor helps reinforce their own learning, develop leadership skills, and gain hands-on experience in fields like education, social work, and public service. Many go on to pursue teaching or service careers inspired by their tutoring work.

It’s also paid, flexible, and purposeful employment. In a time when students are seeking meaningful work that fits their schedule and contributes to their community, K–12 tutoring hits the mark.

A Scalable, Student-Centered Strategy

Through strategic partnerships, institutions and districts can co-create tutoring programs that are:

• Locally grounded: Tutors understand the community and can build authentic connections
  
  
• Flexible: Sessions can occur when it works for the student and tutor
  
  
• High-impact: Research-based and data-informed to drive real academic gains
  
  
• Workforce-aligned: Offering professional development and career exposure for tutors

At Knack, we’ve seen the impact of peer tutoring on college campuses. The same principles apply to K–12: when support is student-led, relationship-driven, and aligned to real needs, everyone benefits.

The Bottom Line

Local college students are more than capable tutors. They are future educators, mentors, and changemakers. By tapping into this talent pool, school districts can scale academic support while building community and preparing the next generation of leaders.

Click here to learn more about Knack’s partnerships with K-12 organizations.