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Anonymous December 12, 2007

My second-grader is in special education, and I think tutoring would help him. But I can't afford a tutor.

Anonymous
My son is in special education. I would like for him to have tutoring services, but I cannot afford them. What do you recommend I do, because tutoring would really help him?
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Answer From Our Expert

GreatSchools Staff DebraCollins December 12, 2007
For the tutoring to be geared to the special education needs of your child, I suggest that you begin with your son's special education teacher or teachers.

They should be able to identify what type of tutoring best meets his needs. Tutoring may need to be specialized depending on his challenges. It is often difficult to find free tutoring, but you may be able to find tutors who work on a sliding scale.

The teachers may be a good resource for you with that as well. You can also try your school district to see if there are after-school programs for which your son is eligible. These programs are not considered day care, but more comprehensive programs that offer tutoring as one of their curriculum options.

Some schools contract with outside agencies that provide these programs free to families who are receiving government assistance or have other financial constraints. The Beacon Center is one such nationwide program that may be in your area. Facilities become qualified as a Beacon Center and are listed independently. You can do an online search for "beacon center" and your city to see if there is a center near you.

You might also try your school counselor or principal for referrals to outside educational centers that may have tutoring at reduced fees. A local university may have college students who tutor children with special needs as part of their curriculum.

I have also known parents of special education students to form parent support groups to share resources and advocate for their children in their schools. Organizing with others may be a good option for both you and your son. This helps everyone feel less isolated and it helps navigate the complex resources with more support.
DebraCollins
Advice from our experts is not a substitute for medical or other professional advice and services from a qualified health-care provider familiar with your unique situation. We recommend consulting a qualified professional if you have concerns about your child's medical or emotional condition.

Parent Answers to "My second-grader is in special education, and I think tutoring would help him. But I can't afford a tutor."

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Kennysmom
Kennysmom July 18, 2008
If you can't afford tutoring, talk with your child's teachers to find out what he needs help with -- then see if there are free or low-cost tutoring opportunities in your community. YMCA, boys & girls clubs, even some schools offer tutoring services & if you've talked to the teachers you can guide the tutors. Good Luck!
dhfl143
dhfl143 March 13, 2008
Where is your child experiencing difficulting? Research shows that if you meet a child at their specific need, you "catch them before they fail". I would like to invite you to join and post your question in the Learning and Attention Difficulties group located here:

community.greatschools.net/groups/11554

This group is made of many individuals who migrated here from SchwabLearning, a website that was established to help parents and children deal with LD and Attention difficulties. In addition, parents from GS, who have experience in dealing with various LD, have also joined this group. Collectively this group has "real world" experiences to these types of challenges and may have some additional suggestions for you.

AdvocateMom
AdvocateMom January 22, 2008
If your child is in special education then there is an IEP or 504 plan in place. If your child's unique individual education needs are not being met or your child is not making sufficient progess toward the goals and objectives identified in the IEP then you should reconvene the IEP meeting to request additional services. If you need to file a complaint regarding these matters ask for compensatory education if there has been non-compliance. Good Luck.
drjohnson
drjohnson January 15, 2008
If your child just needs someone to help him through his homework, a bright high school student or even a kind middle schooler might work just fine for very little $$.

If there is a teacher's college nearby, they might offer free or very inexpensive clinics so that their students can work with real kids under supervision. Even better if you can find a grad student in special ed.

The Masons offer a reading clinic also.

Any contributed content above is the subjective opinion of that member or external author, and not of GreatSchools. GreatSchools does not check for accuracy in community posts or verify the contributor’s identity. If you are searching for health-related advice we strongly suggest you seek professional medical support. View our Community Guidelines for more details.
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