This online learning community reshapes education with individualization at the core
How a free digital platform allows anyone to get — or give — tailored tutoring
Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy and Schoolhouse.world, a digital platform for students and tutors
COVID-19 shut down schools, disconnecting students from meaningful learning opportunities — and those already struggling bore the brunt
Create and scale a digital platform with free tutoring tailored to students’ needs — enabling them to catch up
In its first year, 9,000 tutoring sessions completed, 10 partnerships forged with state departments of education, and UChicago and MIT are recognizing tutoring and learning on Schoolhouse.world when reviewing applications
Sal Khan refused to let students fall behind from COVID-19.
The education innovator came up with a plan the moment the pandemic struck. As the founder of Khan Academy, an online platform providing world-class education to more than 120 million registered users worldwide, he decided to launch a free tutoring platform.
Sal had a name from the start: Schoolhouse.world. Beyond offering free high-quality tutoring, he also wanted to inspire students to become tutors themselves. He knew this peer-to-peer tutoring approach could make a difference during the pandemic. He also knew it could benefit students for years to come.
Tutoring is costly. Most families can’t afford it. But students from all backgrounds would benefit from it.
With Khan Academy, Sal blazed a trail toward individualized education, empowering large numbers of students to choose their own learning path.
Sal’s innovative solution to the crisis? Create Schoolhouse.world, a global learning community to enable anyone, anywhere to give or get free tutoring.
Stand Together Trust, part of the Stand Together community, immediately saw the value of Schoolhouse.world, too. It could enable students to learn at their own time and pace amid the intense challenges of the pandemic and beyond. Even more: Sal’s project could show how education can be improved. It could build further momentum to make individualized education available to every student.
Stand Together Trust was the first supporter — and our community helped connect Sal with other funders, too.
The Stand Together community was the first to support Sal’s work, and he’s since leveraged our capabilities in several ways:
Stand Together Trust became the first donor for his platform.
Stand Together connected him with our community of 700 business leaders and philanthropists to help him scale the project.
Stand Together connected him to key leaders in various states, contributing to their 10 partnerships with state departments of education.
Sal Khan prototyped Schoolhouse.world in early 2020. Students and tutors quickly signed up. Other partners came flocking too. So far, 10 states have made it their official tutoring provider. And MIT and the University of Chicago are recognizing tutoring and learning on Schoolhouse.world when reviewing applications.
Tutoring sessions held in first 11 months
States’ departments of education using Schoolhouse.world as their official tutoring provider
Universities already recognizing the platform as part of their application process — MIT and UChicago.
It’s a great start for the brand-new project. But Sal Khan is determined to go even further. Schoolhouse.world is now on track to help more students, engage more tutors, and pull in more partners. Best of all, it will help more people see that tailored learning can be accessible to anyone.
The need for tailored tutoring won’t end with the pandemic. Schoolhouse.world could help millions of students in the years ahead.
What You Can Do to Support Students
Learn More: Explore how we’re working with diverse partners to transform education from standardized to individualized and help students reach their potential.
Partner With Us: Tell us about your project and vision — and how we can help you accomplish even more.
Get Involved: Find out how you can support innovators like Sal — and how we can ensure all students receive an individualized education that helps them thrive.
