Who We Are
A student-led nonprofit connecting K–12 learners across Illinois with trained peer tutors through free, fully online sessions.
We exist to make quality academic support accessible to every K–12 student in Illinois, regardless of zip code or income.
IPTA was founded on a straightforward observation: students who recently worked through a concept often explain it better than anyone else. They remember the exact sticking points, the gaps in the textbook, the moment the idea finally made sense.
By placing those students — now tutors — in structured online sessions with younger learners who are in the same position, we create something more useful than a generic tutoring service: a direct line between one student's understanding and another's confusion.
Illinois is geographically and economically diverse. A student in a rural district often has far less access to academic support than a student in a well-resourced suburb. IPTA was built to close that gap — by taking tutoring entirely online and removing every financial barrier.
We are operated by students, governed by a volunteer board, and sustained by grants and institutional partnerships. No student is ever charged for services, and no tutor is paid — they participate to build skills, earn recognition, and give back.
How We Work
Every IPTA session takes place online via video call. This was a deliberate founding decision, not a pandemic accommodation. Being fully online means a student in Carbondale has the same access as a student in Evanston. There is no travel, no parking, no geographic constraint.
Sessions are 50 minutes and held over Google Meet or Zoom. Tutors and students use shared digital whiteboards for math and science, and document editors for writing. All tools used are free and accessible from any modern device.
Session Tools
Google Meet & Zoom
All sessions use one of these two platforms. Students receive a link from their tutor before each session. No account required for students.
Shared Digital Whiteboard
Used for math, science diagrams, and visual explanations. Both parties can draw and annotate in real time.
Shared Documents
For writing and reading sessions, tutors and students collaborate directly in Google Docs or equivalent tools.
Flexible Scheduling
Tutors and students agree on a recurring time that works for both. Sessions can be rescheduled with 24 hours notice.
What We Stand For
01
IPTA services are free with no strings attached. We do not collect family income information, require school enrollment documentation, or prioritize students based on academic standing.
02
Research consistently shows that students learn effectively from near-peers who recently navigated the same material. We take this seriously in how we recruit, train, and match our tutors.
03
All tutors are background-checked and trained in online child safety. Sessions for students under 13 require a parent or guardian present in the household. Sessions are never recorded without consent.
Get in Touch
General email
Tutor applications
Partnerships & schools
Service area
All of Illinois — fully online
Send a Message