Free Tutoring in Staten Island: What's Available?

How Can My Child Receive Free Tutoring in Staten Island?

Figuring Out What Your Child Needs

Before looking into your child's free tutoring options, it's usually a good plan to first figure out precisely what type of assistance your child needs. Consult your child's school. His or her teachers and counselor will probably have a good idea of what your child will get out of tutoring. If it's necessary, you may also consult with learning experts or child psychologists outside of your child's school. However, this can be expensive if you're on a tight budget.

Exploring Your Child's Options

There's a fair chance that your child's school offers tutoring help. It's possible that a learning expert or your child's teachers will be able to offer before or after-school assistance to your child. You may also want to check with local Staten Island learning, youth and community centers as well as libraries.

Supplemental Education Services for Your Child

Under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act, your child may receive free tutoring. This is through a program called Supplemental Education Services (SES). SES works with a number of national tutoring companies to help ensure that underprivileged children receive the help that they need with schoolwork.

There are several requirements for your child to receive SES. Your child's school will usually school notify you of your child's eligibility. Your family income must be below a certain level. Also, your child must be enrolled in a Title I school that is on your state's eligibility list. To find out more information about Title I schools as well as a public list of schools with Title I status, visit the New York Department of Education's website .

Other Possibilities

Many online tutoring companies offer free trials. If your child only needs help short-term, for a reading assignment or a math problem, this could prove to be quite useful. If your child needs help on a regular basis, however, this may not be the best option.

In addition, many websites offer free homework help and tips. These sites are typically staffed by volunteers and have multiple pages of content your child may find useful. Your child can also submit questions and then receive detailed responses from the volunteers. Because this help is free, your child may have to wait a while for a response.