This tutoring service is...
A local service

If this tutoring resource is not a national resource, please give city, state, and region in which it is available.
This type of tutoring should be available in most areas of the country.

With what grade levels does this resource work? (Check all that apply.)
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond

How or where does the student interact with the tutor? (Check all that apply.)
At the student's home, in person
At the library
At school
At the tutor's office

Provide a brief description of this resource:
In many communities, former and current teachers offer tutoring services. When my daughter was having trouble with writing essays for her English class, I contacted the school guidance office for a list of tutors. They had a short list of local people who provided tutoring services and, since the guidance counselor knew my daughter, was able to give me some guidance regarding which tutors might be a good match for what I was looking for.

For what period of time can one enroll for this service? (Check all that apply.)
One session
One month
School term
School semester
Full school year
Summer program
Ongoing

What is the fee structure for this resource?
Hourly rates

What is the fee per period described above?
Varies by community and skill level of the tutor.

How does one contact this resource?
Through a referral from a local school system
Other (specified below)

If "Other," above, please describe method of contact; if online service or national toll-free telephone number, please provide contact information.
Newspaper advertising

What questions should I ask when first talking with this resource?
I felt it was important to ask about the tutor's background and qualifications, but also to talk about how she structured the tutoring sessions. Next, I asked where the tutoring sessions took place. I also asked how she determined skill level at the beginning of the sessions and how she measured progress. Lastly, I asked for references.

What other things should I consider when selecting a tutor or tutoring service?
In my experience, it's important for the student and the tutor to "click" on some level. The intent of the tutoring is to foster success so the tutoring sessions should be something that your child feels are helpful and looks forward to participating in because it helps him do better in school. Most children want to succeed in school but sometimes the size or structure of the classroom doesn't support individual learning styles. Working with a tutor, and successfully completing the work can be an important piece of a child's self image and self esteem.