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In 2007 only 14.5% of children who qualified for FREE tutoring under the No Child
Left Behind law
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took advantage of that program: Generally, your child qualifies if she is getting
a free or reduced-price lunch and attends a Title I school categorized as "in need
of improvement" for two years in a row. Title I schools are in attendance areas
where at least 35% of the students and their families are low income. |
Does Your Child Qualify for FREE tutoring? Find Out Now!
Free Tutoring – Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides the tutoring?
Providers can be for-profit companies, nonprofits (community organizations or colleges,
for example), but they must be approved by your state.
Because of the millions of dollars available for tutoring, NCLB has created a boom
in the industry, attracting some providers with little or no history of improving
student performance. While it's up to states to monitor the quality of tutoring,
some private companies, school officials and government agencies continue to argue
over the rules. This has left parents to ask lots of questions to learn the full
range of tutoring services available to their children. CompareTutors.com is here
to help you get those answers – all from one convenient location!
How do I find a tutor for my child?
Your state Department of Education is required to maintain a list of approved providers
that shows which services are offered in your school district. Approved providers
don't necessarily offer services in every community.
How can I be sure my child is getting a good tutor?
While NCLB requires that classroom teachers have credentials, it does not set standards
for tutors. That means parents need to do their homework to take full advantage
of the law.
How is your child's school involved?
Once a family chooses an approved tutoring service, the district contracts with
and pays the service. The provider is required to set goals for your child in a
meeting with you, your district and your child's teacher or principal, and then
report your child's progress back to all of you. You should ask how often you will
get these updates. Who is the local contact person for the provider? Your district
should be able to provide you with this contact information. You would likely contact
this person first with questions or concerns about the services of the provider
you choose.
Where does the provider offer services?
Providers may offer services in a variety of settings, including:
- Schools
- Public libraries
- Provider offices
- Family homes
- Community centers
- Places of worship
Many providers will offer “hands on” tutoring by trained instructors. Others may
offer internet-based instruction that students can access through a computer at
home, in a school, or a community center. Make sure you and your child are comfortable
with the location.
If your child will need transportation to the provider, ask whether transportation
will be offered. If no transportation will be offered, make plans to get your child
to and from the tutoring sessions.
When does the provider offer services?
Students can receive supplemental services anytime outside of the regular school
day. After school is the most common time for SES to be offered, but it could also
take place before school, on weekends, or during the summer? Make sure the services
are scheduled at a time that works for your family so that your child will be able
to attend regularly.
How often and how long will my child receive tutoring?
This can vary, from everyday to a few times a week. Make sure you know how many
sessions the provider will offer, and how long those sessions will continue.
How are students grouped during tutoring?
Providers offer different types of instruction. Some providers tutor small groups
of students at a time, while others offer one-on-one instruction or teach through
computer programs. Other programs may use a combination of these approaches. Be
sure to choose a provider that offers instruction in way that will work best for
your child.
What is the provider's track record in raising student achievement?
To get on the state list, providers must be able to demonstrate that they have a
track record of raising student achievement in academic subjects, such as reading
and math. Be sure to find out whether the provider has a successful track record
of working with students whose needs are similar to your child’s needs. Look for
evidence in the form of:
- Results on tests developed by the provider, state or district
- Satisfaction surveys of students or parents
- Improved classroom grades
- Improved attendance rates
- Better homework completion
- Written testimony by parents or teachers
Who will be instructing my child? What are their qualifications?
Ask about the backgrounds and qualifications of staff that will be working with
your child.
- Do they have experience teaching reading or math?
- Do they have experience working with children who were struggling in school?
SES providers are not required to hire certified teachers. However, you should make
sure you are confident that each instructor’s level of experience and knowledge
has prepared him or her to help your child improve academically.
What subject areas do your services address?
If your child is having trouble in a specific subject area, such as reading or math,
make sure that the provider you choose offers services focused on that subject area.
Can instructors speak languages other than English?
If your child’s first language is not English, ask whether the provider you are
considering can offer services in your child’s first language.
How will the provider keep me informed of my child’s progress?
Once you choose a provider, the provider is required to establish goals for your
child in a meeting with you, your district, and your child’s teacher or principal.
Providers are also required to report back to you, your child’s school, and the
district about your child’s progress towards these goals. Find out how the provider
will measure progress and report this information to you. Also ask how often you
should expect to get this information. Make sure your child’s progress will be measured
in a way that will be clear and useful for you. If the provider will report on your
child’s progress in writing, you can ask for a sample progress report to get a clearer
picture of how this process would work.
What if my child is eligible for SES, but is already enrolled in an afterschool program?
Find out if the afterschool program is an SES provider. Many afterschool programs
are also SES providers. This means that the program might offer a combination of
academic tutoring and other enrichment activities, such as sports, theater or art.
If your child is enrolled in an afterschool program that is not an SES provider,
encourage the provider to apply to the state for approval.
We wish to acknowledge the U.S. Department of Education whose staff developed and
produced much of this material.
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