Dear Concerned in New York:

Online tutoring for children is a safe and viable alternative to the traditional tutorial format. It joins the ranks of home tutorials and tutorial centers, all having their own character, efficacy of instruction, and fee structure.

The familiar model of one child/one teacher/one hour usually occurs once a week on a scheduled basis in your home. Fees are generally paid directly to the teacher/tutor at the end of the lesson and range from $25 an hour up to $80 per hour depending on the area in which you live. Some tutors will contract with you for a 45-minute session depending upon the age of the child and the depth of the subject matter. The fee will also depend upon how much specialization the teacher you hire will deliver and the training and experience of the teacher. A good tutor will certainly discuss your concerns and be willing to contact the classroom teacher for information regarding your child's school performance. This will include assessment criteria and critical areas of instructional concern. You should arrange for copies of texts and other instructional materials well in advance of the first lesson with your child's regular classroom teacher. Although home tutors generally have good ancillary materials available to them for instruction, it is helpful to make the bridge between school and additional professional staff. You will actually serve as a liaison or facilitator and in doing so, enhance the tutoring experience for your child. You should know that some districts compile tutor lists from within their ranks and post suggested fee schedules. Other districts will leave financial negotiations entirely up to the tutoring professional and parent. It is generally not acceptable for the child's regular classroom teacher to tutor the child. (An exception is if instruction is given before or after school for no additional fee (i.e. as part of the teacher's regular professional responsibilities.) Typically, instruction is given at your home, the tutor's home, or at a library or other designated facility away from the school. One major drawback is that many parents work and cannot find the time to bring their children to the tutor.
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