A Beginner's Guide To Hiring a Tutor for Your Child
Parents often hire tutors to help their children overcome academic challenges. Here's how to choose the right one.
Reviewed by Bethany Hernandez Parks, EdDReviewed by Bethany Hernandez Parks, EdD
Parents want their children to do well academically and enjoy school—but no kid is going to excel in every subject. Some need academic support, while others need some help boosting their self-esteem and executive functioning skills. Hiring a tutor can help with all this and more.
There are many options available to your child for extra academic support. For some families, this support comes in the form of a private tutor outside of school.
We asked Eric Kim, co-owner and program director of LA Tutors in Los Angeles, and Rachel Horwitz, tutor and manager of Scholastic Achievement with the Massachusetts-based JBG Educational Group, to break down different considerations when hiring a tutor for your child.
Should You Hire a Tutor for Your Child?
"There isn't a 'right time' to hire a tutor other than when it is right for your student," Horwitz says. "However, additional educational support is best sought out when students would benefit from one-on-one instruction to improve a specific subject or skill."
Here are some signs that your child could benefit from having a tutor:
Teachers have suggested they need additional help that the school can't adequately provide
Their grades are slipping despite their best efforts
They have trouble starting or finishing homework
They may benefit from instruction at deeper levels than their school offers ("enrichment")
Sometimes, your child's school can provide diagnostic tests to identify learning differences or specific areas or skills your child may need additional help with.
Studies show that extracurricular tutoring can make a big impact on a student's cognitive ability and academic performance, especially when a child is tutored at least three times a week for more than 30 minutes.
Editor's Note
It can be helpful to discuss the possible benefits of tutoring with your child before signing any contract. Not every child will benefit from tutoring, particularly if they are not willing or engaged participants or if the tutor is not a good fit. So, it's helpful to assess (and encourage) your child's buy-in before hiring a tutor.
Related: What To Do When Your Child Doesn't Want To Go to School
How Much Does Tutoring Cost?
Investing in a tutor isn't possible or practical for everyone. Some tutors can be burdensome on a family's time—or budget. Here are some models to consider.
Free or low-cost tutoring
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 82% of public schools offer some tutoring for students, so it's worthwhile to ask your child's teacher or principal about what's available.
If your child's school lacks the resources to provide adequate support for your child, free or low-cost tutoring might be available:
Through your community: Many public libraries and YMCAs offer supervised, no-cost "study hours" for local students.
Through local teens: High school or college students may enjoy tutoring kids, and your child may connect better with a young person. They may accept minimal fees or even tutor for free, as it could help them fulfill volunteer hours required by their school.
Online: You can find free or low-cost learning modules for K-12 students online. Learn To Be, UpChieve, Varsity Tutors, and Tutors for Change offer low-cost tools and even one-on-one time with tutors to improve children's academic performance and learning skills.
Is Online Tutoring Right For Your Child?
Often more convenient and affordable than in-person instruction, online tutoring can be an attractive option for your family. Most online courses tend to be self-paced, which means that your materials and coursework are accessible at any time. In most cases, these programs are pre-written and pre-structured. Your child will be following a specific curriculum and course.
While online tutoring programs work well for self-motivated kids, they aren't right for everyone. Some children may hide behind their screens and not fully engage with the material. Others need help organizing their backpacks and study materials to achieve success, which is more difficult virtually.
Related: Why Kids Get Bored at School—and How to Help
Private tutoring
One-on-one private tutoring sessions are typically the most expensive option and can cost up to hundreds of dollars an hour. "Prices range anywhere from $30 to $200 an hour, depending on the quality and caliber of your tutor," Kim says.
Independent tutors usually charge less. "But working with a company comes with perks, like a satisfaction guarantee and the knowledge that a reputable company has vetted and trained your tutor already," says Kim.
What Type of Tutor Should You Hire?
There are different types of tutors for different needs. Your child may need help with several skills or just one or two. Private tutors can customize a program that suits your child's individual needs. Some private tutors prefer in-person instruction while others like to meet virtually.
Single-subject tutors
Often, students need long-term help with a single subject, such as reading or math. Some kids only struggle with a single topic within those broader subjects, like reading comprehension or fractions, and need tutoring for a short stint.
Sometimes, teachers (active or retired) tutor kids in individual subjects. Tutors who currently teach or used to teach in your child's school system can be especially helpful as they are familiar with your child's curriculum.
Executive functioning tutor
Sometimes referred to as "organizational tutors," executive functioning tutors are trained to help your child develop skills related to the brain's frontal lobe functions, which include prioritizing tasks, filtering distractions, and controlling impulses.
An executive functioning tutor can assist your child in developing a plan for tackling (and submitting) homework, keeping their school materials organized, and reading and answering emails.
Related: How Do I Get My Child Assessed for ADHD?
Homework tutor
Sometimes, children mainly need a tutor who can help them stay on task during homework. Often working during afterschool hours, homework-help tutors can help your child create a game plan for getting their work finished and assist with any challenging material along the way.
Related: How to Tell if Your Teen Is Using an AI Homework Helper
English as a second-language (ESL) tutor
Some foreign language teachers and tutors double as ESL tutors. These tutors can help children raised by parents who speak another language or those who have recently moved to the US. They will tutor kids in speaking, writing, and reading fluently in English.
Special education tutors
Some tutors are trained to identify and treat more serious learning difficulties that can be overcome by working with a specialist. Properly diagnosing and treating learning disorders in children is essential to help students succeed in school.
By law, schools must work with parents or guardians to develop a support plan—called an individualized education plan (IEP)—for a child who requires special services. They should be able to point you in the direction of special education tutors inside the school district who can help,
Related: Tips for Homeschooling a Child With Dyslexia
Standardized test prep tutors
Standardized test preparation may include a big financial commitment for parents of college-bound kids. The alphabet soup of SAT, ACT, MLAT, GMAT, MCAT, and more can feel so overwhelming that hiring a tutor often feels like a must.
However, there are many free or low-cost online standardized test prep resources and courses available online. Khan Academy is a trusted resource for free learning tools. Varsity Tutors has a free course, and students can take free practice tests and/or access low-cost tools before resorting to pricier programs, like Princeton Review.
If you choose a private tutor, Horwitz recommends that families find someone who can specialize their approach to each student, as different people struggle with different sections—and different exams require different experts. "A one-size-fits-all approach will not be helpful to most students," she advises.
Related: How to Help Your Child With School Anxiety at Every Age
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