A Beginner's Guide To Hiring a Tutor for Your Child

Parents want their children to do well in school and enjoy being students. But no kid is going to excel in every subject all the time, which can leave kids and parents feeling frustrated. All kids have unique strengths and challenges, and some need more academic support than others. Success in school also requires bolstering a child's self-esteem, socio-emotional health, executive function, and engagement with learning. Tutoring 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 tutor. According to July 2015 research conducted by Statista, 26% of parents in the US have paid for additional tutoring, and 43% would consider it.

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 tutoring options and explain how to know whether or not a tutor is right for your family. Here's what they have to say about hiring a tutor for your child.

Should You Hire a Tutor for Your Child?

Whether or not to hire a tutor for your child is a personal decision. You'll need to weigh potential benefits against the costs in time, transportation, and money. Investing in a tutor isn't possible or practical for everyone. However, if it's feasible for your family's schedule and budget, tutoring can help kids with a variety of challenges from grades and study skills to college applications.

Usually, parents will consider tutoring if their child needs additional academic support with a specific subject, their grades are slipping, or for general homework help. Kids might be failing a subject, struggling with engagement, or having trouble keeping up with the workload. Others may need additional support to fully understand the material or want to take content to deeper levels than offered at their school.

It can be helpful to discuss the possible benefits of tutoring with your child as well as their teachers or other relevant school staff. Sometimes school assessments can be done to let you know about any learning differences or specific areas or skills your child may need extra help with. Cost is another important factor to consider. However, low-cost or free tutoring is often available online or in person through other community resources.

If tutoring seems like a good fit, some parents choose to enroll their kids in online tutoring, while others enlist the help of an older student. Another option is to hire a private instructor. Tutoring programs are available at many schools as well. You might choose tutoring targeted to a specific goal, such as help with writing a paper or preparing for exams, or for more general aims like improving organization and regular homework completion.

Not every child will benefit from tutoring, particularly if they are not willing or engaged participants or the tutoring program isn't a good fit. So, it's helpful to assess (and encourage) your child's buy-in before committing to hiring a tutor. However, 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.

"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."

How Much Does Tutoring Cost?

The cost of tutoring varies widely, depending on the type of tutoring you're seeking, the subject matter, and where you live. Informal tutoring is usually free or low-cost. 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. Online courses generally have a set rate.

One-on-one 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."

Types of Tutoring

There are different types of tutors for different needs. Homework help tutors, for example, assist students in homework completion. Test prep tutors help students with exam preparation, and general education tutors offer overall coaching and support. There are also learning disability tutors, English as a second language (ESL) tutors, college admissions tutors, and subject-specific tutors—to name a few—with each type of tutor falling into a very specific category.

Informal tutoring

Informal tutoring is not one-size-fits-all. The term can be applied to any teaching that takes place outside of a formal classroom setting. This may mean asking older students who are strong in a subject to help your child with their homework. "Working with an older sibling or cousins can be an option if they are willing to donate their time," says Kim.

It could also mean talking with your child's teacher about additional study time. Many districts offer after-school programs for help with homework, essay writing, and more. Similarly, most public libraries, YMCAs, and a variety of other community organizations offer programs to assist with schoolwork, too.

Online tutoring

If you are looking for a more formal or in-depth approach, online tutoring can be an attractive and affordable option. It's flexible, convenient, and can be catered to your needs. 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 more individualized attention. Be patient, versatile, flexible, and listen to your child. You should also explore your options.

Outschool, for example, is a platform that has over 140,000 interactive online classes and camps, while Learn To Be, UpChieve, Varsity Tutors, and Tutors for Change offer low-cost tools to improve children's academic performance and learning skills, many of which are one-on-one.

Private tutoring

If informal or online tutoring isn't working, you might need a tutor who offers regular, in-person sessions. Some students need more personalized support or to be away from the distraction of a computer. One-on-one tutoring, or private tutoring, is ideal for students looking to focus on a specific subject or task, like reading or math.

Private tutoring is fully customizable, which is a huge benefit to those working toward a specific goal. It is also interactive. Your student is always engaged, so they can't hide or sit silently in the back.

It's important to note, however, that private tutoring can be cost-prohibitive. The average cost of a one-on-one tutor is $50 an hour.

Still, one-on-one sessions are best for some, and they might help identify more serious learning difficulties that can be overcome by working with a specialist. Children's Dyslexia Centers can help parents find reputable resources, for example. Properly diagnosing and treating learning disorders in children can help students succeed in school and help educators know how to teach your child most effectively.

Standardized test prep

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.