Future of Tutoring: Predictions for Supplemental Education Through 2026

Tutoring is a sure-fire way to improve the skills of children who are struggling in various subjects, and parents are seeing the value in it more than ever.

The online private tutoring market is set to almost double in value between 2024 and 2030, with a rise from USD 4.32 billion to USD 8.08 billion. This is driven by a number of trends, from personalized learning to poor results in standardized tests.

Here, we’ll explore the future of tutoring and what parents can expect in 2026 as demand increases.

Trend #1: A further increase in remote tutoring

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a dramatic effect on learning in the U.S. six years on from its inception. Not only did remote learning become the norm, but children’s test scores are still recovering.

Reading and math scores are at their lowest in 20 years, while absenteeism has remained high since the pandemic. While these statistics are not positive on the surface, they’re leading to continued demand for online tutoring, especially in English and STEM for kids.

Online education offers the dual benefit of helping children improve their scores in math, reading, and other key subjects, as well as offering them the chance to study without leaving their home. This is important when fewer children are attending school, and offers an alternative to the parents who aren’t ready for full-time homeschooling, which is also seeing a significant rise.

With test scores still suffering, absenteeism high, and the expected growth of the market, we expect to see the demand for online math classes and other remote tutoring options continue to rise in 2026.

Trend #2: Dedicated test prep tutoring

Another side-effect of children’s test scores remaining low is that parents are looking for ways to specifically boost their grades. This has led to a demand for tutoring focused on test prep.

Parents can now access tutoring dedicated specifically to preparing for standardized tests, including the SAT and ACT exams. This type of children’s education focuses on exam techniques in addition to improving knowledge and skills in children.

The more test results falter in the U.S., the more we’re likely to see this type of tutoring become more popular, as parents strive to improve their kids’ test scores.

Trend #3: The implementation of AI

There’s no escaping AI right now, and that’s true of tutoring too. Recently, Google Gemini launched free SAT practice tests, which are created and graded by AI. Meanwhile, a Las Vegas tutoring center is combining AI-generated content with tutoring and test prep.

In theory, AI-focused test prep can negate the need for private tutoring, but there is rightly a backlash against using AI tutoring in education. Educators in schools across the country are rejecting AI and other educational technologies for more traditional hands-on approaches to learning. Additionally, parents trust in AI is dropping as the use of it in education is increasing.

The ideal future may lie in a blend of both. Research from Google and Eedi shows that tutors who use AI to inform their lessons perform just as well as those who don’t, and the use of AI may speed up their processes. We expect to see AI become more widely used in tutoring but not at the expense of real human tutors.

Trend #4: Gamifying the learning experience

It’s not just the online tutoring market that is expected to grow in the next few years. The EdTech gamification market is set to explode tenfold from a value of USD 3.7 billion to USD 37.9 billion by 2035.

This is, in part, fueled by the rise in online learning; it’s much easier to take part in gamified education online, whether that’s through tutoring or playing games online. It’s also a response to continued poor test scores, as parents explore ways to make learning fun and interesting to children.

Game-based learning is used by tutors to keep children engaged in their learning; interactive games played together with students keep them focused, while the tutor can offer support to children who get stuck.

With the predicted astronomical rise in gamified EdTech, we expect to see more tutors implement this in their learning as a sure-fire way to improve both engagement and learning outcomes.

Trend #5: The rise of hyper-personalization and how Brighterly is redefining the learning path

There’s no excuse now for tutoring to be generic instead of personalized. Initial tests and continued engagements with learners, as well as digital progress trackers, give tutors the knowledge to create content tailored to each learner.

Tutoring companies like Brighterly are using this approach to address learners’ weaknesses and bring them back up to grade level. It begins with an initial diagnostic test, which highlights areas children understand well, as well as those they need to improve in. Then, tutors create a highly personalized curriculum that they deliver one-to-one on an adaptive learning platform.

Each elementary math tutor holds years of experience, plus many are educated to degree level. Alongside personalization, they use a gamified approach in live sessions to keep children engaged with their learning.

Studies show that this personalized, one-to-one approach to tutoring not only improves students’ confidence but also their grades. As parents seek ways to address their children’s learning deficits, demands for personalized tutoring will increase.

Trend #6: Detailed data on progress

Beyond standardized test scores, data on students’ progress in tutoring was historically difficult to quantify. But thanks to investments in EdTech, this is now much easier to both see and assess.

Tutors can track how well children respond to their lessons and questions, as well as deploy in-session questionnaires, puzzles, and tests to assess how well children are absorbing the material. This data all feeds into progress reports that can be shared with parents, with quantifiable data and meaningful analysis.

When parents can see how their children are improving through tutoring in cold, hard data, they can understand its value and where their children can continue to benefit from it. This makes their investment in math tutors for kids worthwhile.

Tutoring as a future-proof solution to falling grades

With a huge expected market growth and continued improvements, tutoring will continue to be a mainstay in education in the future. Personalization and gamification have allowed educators to address students’ needs more directly, while the shift to online learning is here to stay.

There are some future trends that tutors and businesses should consider when implementing, such as AI. Fully AI-generated learning, or AI tutors, will likely receive backlash from parents who want to ensure children are learning from qualified human experts. However, careful implementation can reduce tutors’ workload, resulting in more time spent meaningfully teaching children.

Tutoring is here to stay — and it will continue to keep improving.