Summary of UPchieve, an online tutor app for low-income students, launches a free tool for teachers | TechCrunch

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    UPchieve Empowers Teachers with Free Online Tutoring

    UPchieve, a free, 24/7 online tutoring and college counseling app for low-income students, has launched a new tool specifically designed to empower teachers in Title 1 middle schools and high schools. This new feature, called "UPchieve for Teachers," enables teachers to seamlessly connect their students with personalized academic support.

    • Teachers can invite students to sign up for tutoring, create classes, and monitor student progress.
    • The platform allows teachers to recommend students for 1:1 tutoring sessions at no cost.
    • In the coming weeks, teachers will also be able to assign tutoring sessions to entire classes.

    Reaching Students Who Need It Most

    UPchieve for Teachers is a significant step towards closing the education gap and providing equitable access to learning resources for all students. By targeting Title 1 schools, which serve a high concentration of low-income families, UPchieve aims to reach students who may not have access to other educational support systems.

    • Approximately 43% of public schools qualify for Title I funding, demonstrating the scale of this need.
    • UPchieve for Teachers is expected to expand its user base by reaching students who might not be aware of such free services or who may not be actively seeking assistance.

    Addressing Gaps in Foundational Skills

    Founding CEO Aly Murray emphasizes the crucial role of this new tool in supporting teachers' efforts to address diverse learning needs within their classrooms.

    • Students often enter classrooms with varying levels of foundational skills, making it challenging for teachers to provide individualized support to all students.
    • UPchieve for Teachers provides an invaluable resource for teachers to bridge these gaps, allowing them to focus on delivering quality instruction.

    The Power of 1:1 Tutoring with UPchieve

    UPchieve's online tutoring platform offers students personalized assistance with a wide range of subjects, including math, science, English, history, humanities, and more.

    • Students can access 24/7 online tutoring sessions through the app's in-app messenger or via voice chat.
    • Tutors are volunteers who undergo rigorous background checks, training, and certification in their respective subjects.
    • UPchieve's comprehensive platform ensures high-quality and reliable tutoring support for students.

    Leveraging AI to Enhance Tutoring and Teacher Support

    To further enhance the tutoring experience and provide valuable insights for teachers, UPchieve utilizes AI technology.

    • The platform utilizes OpenAI's GPT-4 to generate feedback and progress reports for students after tutoring sessions.
    • UPchieve's future plans include using AI to help tutors create practice problems and generate summaries of student sessions, further empowering teachers with data-driven insights.
    • While AI plays a valuable role, UPchieve emphasizes that human tutors remain at the core of its tutoring program.

    UPchieve's Impact on Education

    Since its inception in 2016, UPchieve has made a significant impact on the lives of countless students.

    • The platform has matched over 190,000 tutoring requests from more than 20,000 students across all 50 states.
    • UPchieve's success is driven by its commitment to providing free and accessible educational support to students who need it most.
    • The organization's partnership with over 50 schools underscores its dedication to promoting equitable access to education.

    A Sustainable Model for Edtech

    UPchieve, a non-profit organization, relies on a sustainable model for funding its operations.

    • The organization relies on charitable donations, grants, and paid partnerships with schools, districts, and corporations.
    • UPchieve has successfully raised over $4 million through philanthropy and earned revenue from paid partnerships.
    • The organization's focus on sustainable funding ensures the continued provision of free and accessible education support for students.

    Conclusion: Empowering Teachers and Students

    UPchieve for Teachers represents a transformative step in the field of education, providing teachers with a powerful tool to support their students and bridge the gap in academic achievement. The platform's commitment to free, accessible, and high-quality tutoring services aligns perfectly with its mission of empowering both teachers and students to reach their full potential. As UPchieve continues to innovate and expand its reach, its impact on the lives of low-income students and their educators is bound to grow even greater.

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