In an effort to close the academic gap for kids in underprivileged school districts, many tutoring centers have joined forces with the government to provide free tutoring for children who need it most, but whose parents may not be able to otherwise afford it.
To show their personal support for the cause, Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services has become an approved supplemental education service (SES) in nearly every state in the country. And, as a result of their recognition, they have been able to provide thousands of students with the help they need to succeed in school. But, because of some confusion surrounding these sanctioned programs, many parents are unaware that their child may qualify for this program, so they don’t seek out the help he needs.
Here, Farhan Hussain, the owner and director of the San Antonio branch of Club Z!, breaks down some of the most important details about free tutoring opportunities.
What are supplemental education services?
SES are additional learning opportunities for children who attend Title I schools or schools that have not met state mandated targets set for the school district for numerous consecutive years. As part of the program, students are eligible to receive free tutoring or after-school sessions that are targeted at reviewing skills taught in class, homework help, test preparation and the reinforcement of basic math, language and grammar skills.
How does a company become SES certified?
According to the U.S. Department of Education, every state has a State Education Agency which is responsible for choosing organizations or companies that are qualified to provide these students with the help they need. Once a company like Club Z! is approved, they are added to a master list for that area. It is then the responsibility of the agency to provide parents whose children attend Title I schools with a list of all their choices for supplemental learning programs.
How can you find out if your child is eligible?
The best way to find out your child’s eligibility is to contact his school directly, suggests Hussain. If your child’s school receives this program, then you should take the right steps to find out about any upcoming meetings on the subject, or set up your own meetings with representatives who will be able to enroll your child.
Is this different from regular tutoring?
In the sense that children are getting the tutoring they need to promote study skills and reinforce the material they are learning in school, this is no different than regular tutoring. But when it comes to the details of the program, it is in fact different, explains Hussain. For these free tutoring programs, a specific curriculum must be approved and strictly followed, he adds. And unlike, typical Club Z! sessions, these can take place in group settings rather than one-on-one. It is also the responsibility of the school and the tutoring center to maintain an extensive amount of paperwork for up to 10 years on each student who has participated in the program, including his grades, and the number of hours he was tutored.
Is this helpful for students?
Club Z! has been participating in the program since 2002 and tutors involved in this program have seen improvements in thousands of children. And, since the program is under the Federal No Child Left Behind Act, which works to ensure that every student in America receives the education he’s entitled to, the program is constantly being researched and studied to provide students with the most beneficial methods for learning.
