Now that the school year is well underway, many parents are realizing that their child may need a little extra help in school.
Luckily, there’s academic support available.
For starters, there is a wide variety of tutoring programs in New York City for parents who can pay for these services. Corporate tutoring companies like SCORE and Princeton Review, as well as non-profit organizations and individual tutors, provide a range of services—all for a fee. Make sure the tutoring service you choose has a good reputation and a track record of success.
If you can’t afford to pay for tutoring for your child, but you see that your child may need extra academic help, you have several options. You can:
1) Check out tutoring services available through the Department of Education’s (DOE) Supplemental Education Services. This program is part of No Child Left Behind, which provides free tutoring to children who qualify and need extra help in reading or math.
This program is under-publicized and under-utilized by eligible city students. In 2005, the DOE reported that fewer than half of the 215,000 eligible students sought the free tutoring.
A student is eligible for SES tutoring if he or she receives free lunch and attends a Title I public school that has not made adequate yearly progress (AYP) for three years or more. These schools are identified as Title I Schools in Need of Improvement Year 2 or Corrective Action Schools. View the full list of eligible schools here.
2) Speak with your principal, school guidance counselor or parent coordinator. Many individual schools offer Extended Teacher programs that allow a student the continuity of tutoring from a teacher they already know.
3) Visit your nearby Beacon Center, Community Center or Settlement House. These great community resources often offer a variety of community and youth programming, including free tutoring services.
The Out-of-School Time (OST) Program strives to combine academic support with fun, recreational and cultural activities for kids. Programs are free of charge and are located in every neighborhood across the City. [pdf]
If you’re still having trouble finding what tutoring option fits best for your child, call our office at 212-669-7250.
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