NCLB Tutoring Information For Tutoring Providers

This page offers current or potential NCLB Tutoring providers information about supplemental educational services specific to their needs and roles. It also offers tips on how to use this website.

What does NCLB mean for tutoring providers?
The supplemental educational services (NCLB Tutoring) provision offers providers an opportunity to offer low-income children, who may be struggling in school, extra academic help and individual instruction. Through NCLB Tutoring, innovative leaders and educators can start a new tutoring program or expand an existing one to serve more students.

For more information about what it takes to become a successful NCLB Tutoring provider, check out The Providers' Toolkit for Supplemental Educational Services. The toolkit was developed by the SESQ Center (through a grant made available by the US Department of Education) to offer potential or current NCLB Tutoring providers practical, step-by-step tips, tools and resources on designing, delivering, marketing, managing, and evaluating an NCLB Tutoring program.

Who can provide NCLB Tutoring services?
NCLB Tutoring providers can be any of the following:

• For-profit companies.
• Non-profit groups.
• Local community programs.
• Colleges or universities.
• National organizations.
• Faith-based groups.
• Private and charter schools.
• Public schools and districts that have not been identified as in need of improvement.
• Approved providers must offer students extra academic help anytime outside of the regular school day. After school is the most common time for NCLB Tutoring to be offered, but it could also take place before school, on weekends, or during the summer.
• Providers may offer services in a variety of settings:
• Schools.
• Public libraries.
• Provider offices.
• Family homes.
• Community centers.
• Places of worship.

Many providers will offer "hands on" tutoring by trained instructors. Others may offer Internet-based instruction that students can access through a computer at home, in a school, or at a community center.

How does an individual or an organization become an NCLB Tutoring provider? Each state develops a provider application and a request for providers. Providers complete the state's application. To become a state-approved provider, a program has to demonstrate that it:

• Has a proven track record of raising student achievement in academic subjects (such as reading and math).
• Offers high-quality, research-based instruction focused on improving student academic achievement.
• Offers services that are in line with state standards.
• Is financially sound.
• Complies with Federal, state and local health, safety, and civil rights laws.
• Individuals or groups of individuals who want to become NCLB Tutoring providers must organize as a legally recognized non-profit or for-profit entity and be approved by the state.

Each states sets its own application timelines but must give providers an opportunity to apply for state approval at least once a year. To access each state's provider application, criteria for selecting providers, and current list of approved providers, go to our NCLB Tutoring by State page.

What happens once a provider is approved by the state?
Each state develops a list of approved providers, broken down by the district(s) in which the providers can serve. This list should at least tell families about:

• Subject areas (such as reading or math) and grade levels covered.
• Provider's track record in raising student achievement.
• Qualifications of the tutoring staff.
• Where and when the services are offered.
• Provider's ability to serve students with disabilities or who are English language learners.
• States provide information about approved providers to districts. Districts are then responsible for identifying eligible students and giving their families information about the providers.
• Families will receive information from districts describing how to select a provider and giving deadlines for signing up for services. When possible, districts need to make sure that this information is in language(s) local families understand. If a family asks for assistance, the district must help the family choose a provider.

How can providers help inform families about NCLB Tutoring and encourage them to sign up?
Providers can develop clear, easy-to-read information about their services and send copies to states and districts. Providers should work with the district and schools to get this information to parents. For example, providers could work with schools and districts to hold provider "fairs" at school parent-teacher nights so that families can learn about NCLB Tutoring, meet potential providers, and sign up for services. Groups of local providers could pool resources to help the district send materials home to eligible families.

Providers can also focus on reaching out to families at places they visit often, such as:

• Community centers.
• Places of worship.
• Grocery stores.
• Bus or subway stops.
• Beauty salons and barbershops.
• Providers may be able to place newspaper ads, send postcards to all families in the area, or appear on local radio or TV talk shows.

What happens once a family chooses an NCLB Tutoring provider?
Once a family chooses a provider, the provider, the school and the district meet with the parents to agree on performance goals for the child and a schedule for services. Typically, the provider or the district sets up this meeting. A provider is required to monitor each student's progress toward these goals and regularly communicate with the student's family, school, and district about the student's progress.

How are providers paid?
School districts pay for providers. Providers are required to include information about the cost of their services when applying for state approval. When a family chooses a provider, the school district enters into a contract with the provider. These contracts often include agreements about the schedule for services, payment, and the cost of services (the same as the amount indicated on the provider's state application). The contract may also include criteria for monitoring provider effectiveness (see How are providers monitored?). Districts may set payment schedules so that providers begin tutoring students before receiving the first payment. In such cases, providers should make sure that they are able to cover operating costs until payment is received. Districts should also consider that some providers may not have sufficient capital to offer services for long periods of time without payment.

How are providers monitored?
The state monitors each approved provider's effectiveness in raising student achievement. States monitor each provider at least once a year, though some states may monitor providers more frequently. States must remove from the list any provider that has not helped students improve for two or more years. States are required to set their own standards for monitoring the quality and effectiveness of provider services in raising student achievement in academic subjects, such as reading and math. These standards will be consistent with the criteria set forth in the state's application for NCLB Tutoring providers. The standards clearly spell out how student performance will be measured. These measures might include:

• Assessments developed by the provider, state or district.
• Satisfaction surveys of students or parents.
• Attendance rates.
• Homework completion.
• Written testimony by parents or teachers.
• When establishing contracts, providers and districts will work together to clearly indicate how student performance will be measured.

Visit our NCLB Tutoring by State for links to information about each state's monitoring procedures and standards.

How can providers use this website?
This site has a number of resources for providers. We recommend visiting these pages:
About Free NCLB Tutoring page for a general explanation of NCLB Tutoring, a description of how it works, and an overview of roles and responsibilities for NCLB Tutoring.
Free Tutoring by State page for state profiles on No Child Left Behind. You can also find out which schools are required to provide NCLB Tutoring and obtain contact information for each state education official in charge of NCLB Tutoring.