Schools, flush with cash previously allocated for SES, are attempting to continue providing supplemental education services for a fraction of previously offered per pupil allotments (PPA’s). Schools have chosen to either run their own ”extended learning” programs by assigning additional responsibilities to former school site supervisors or by hiring, “extended learning” coordinators. Typically, this involves pulling students out of classes during the day and requiring teachers to provide afterschool tutoring. This option is not without its issues. Some of these students are also being pulled to meet with behavior specialists and other professionals. Students cannot be pulled from classes when their primary teacher is conducting a review or administering an exam, nor can students be compelled to attend after-school tutoring and will often not do so without incentives. Thus, while these schools aim to offer 50+ hours of tutoring to their under-performing students, actual application proves this goal unattainable.  Read more... (280 words, 1 image, estimated 1:07 mins reading time)

There is an approved Vermont SES Business for Sale.
$40,000 with negotiable terms.
E-mail vermontses@gmail.com for more information and reference Joe Lansing.

Now that a number of states have opted out of SES, the remaining states offering SES are literally flooded with applications. While the states offering SES say that every application, as long it provides evidence of a high quality application, will be accepted, that may not actually be the case. In the case of two applications with similar information, the out of state applicant often receives lower scores and in some cases significantly lower scores. A low score often translates into an application denied. If you are an SES provider submitting an application in a state that is not your home state, do be sure to get a local address that you will use on your application as well as a local number (easily obtainable from Google Voice).  Read more... (147 words, 2 images, estimated 35 secs reading time)

The answer to first question – Is Free Tutoring Over? – For all intents and purposes is yes…for now. Will students still receiving tutoring free of charge? Some will. Will parents have a choice with respect to who their child tutors with? The answer is no.

The answer to the question, “Now What?”, depends on who is asking the question. For parents, now you have to decide how you will approach your child’s education. Will you seek alternatives, like charter or choice schools? Will you look for other free or low cost tutoring options for your student? Will you demand your school use some of the intervention funds they receive for free tutoring? Will you look toward 21st century programs for your child’s supplemental education?  Read more... (449 words, 2 images, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

Charter schools have been getting more attention now that states are relaxing or eliminating restrictions. With this attention comes detractors and increased liability.

Prior to operating a charter, most business are aware of insurance requirements. Typically, charter schools will seek protection, through insurance, from breach of contract claims, wrongful termination claims, and negligence claims. In this regard, charter schools face the same risks school districts and their Boards of Education face.  Read more... (403 words, 2 images, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

The evidence suggests an NCLB Waiver Request is more of a formality rather than an objective process to improve education standards for students across the United States. In light of this reality, school districts, like the Guilford County School district in North Carolina, have made the decision to discontinue free tutoring for parents saying, “At last night’s Guilford County School’s Board of Education meeting, the Board decided to discontinue implementation of Supplemental Educational Services (SES) at the conclusion of the 2011-12 school year, pending approval of the waiver.” (This was contained in an e-mail sent to SES providers on April 27th, 2012)  Read more... (407 words, 2 images, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

Education has become increasingly data driven over the last decade of education reform and tutoring companies who want to continue serving the needs of school districts will have to provide data about their tutoring programs.

There are three types of records all tutoring company’s should be keeping in their tutoring businesses:

1. Financial Data
2. Student School Academic Gains
3. Student Standardized Test Score Gains

Financial Data

Career and college readiness is the new buzz phrase in education along with 21st Century Skills. While there is turmoil in current education law with states implementing changes to comply with NCLB waivers, the emphasis on career and college readiness skills appears steady.

Tutoring companies need to demonstrate that they understand the current trends in education, including most states’ adaptation of Common Core Standards and that their programs are designed to improve achievement based on those trends. Common Core standards are clearly defined making it a straightforward task to align any tutoring program to the widely used standards. Career and college readiness skills are not so well defined.  Read more... (385 words, 2 images, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Irrespective of group demographics, every small group of students carry potential for behavioral issues. Some of those issues stem from a sense of entitlement on the part of the student or parent while other behavioral issues may arise because of the group dynamics. Behavioral Issues have to be addressed and managed to ensure students are receiving the instruction intended. There are seven steps every provider of small group tutoring should follow to address and manage behavioral issues:  Read more... (505 words, 1 image, estimated 2:01 mins reading time)

Many education companies understand the value of offering advanced technological services to their clients (whether private paying clients, community partners or school districts) without increasing costs on the part of the client. Until recently, there were two barriers to offering services available only through the Internet – lack of equipment and Internet access. Those barriers are quickly falling as more students gain access to the Internet through Ipad and Tablet devices. A growing initiative to connect more United States Citizens, irrespective of income, will result in a significant shift in the way tutoring services are primarily delivered.  Read more... (745 words, 2 images, estimated 2:59 mins reading time)