How to Know if Your Child Needs Help What Kind of Help is Available How to Choose a Qualified Provider How to Use the Referral List Glossary List of providers How to Know if Your Child Needs Help It may be difficult to decide if your child needs supplemental assistance beyond the school setting. Children vary in their styles of learning. Some students who initially lag behind their classmates may catch up as they progress through school. Other students may have learning problems which require outside help. Be aware that a "wait and see" approach may result in difficulties that are hard to address later. Early intervention is always the best policy. The most common warning signs for children who may need additional help are: low or failing grades, lack of motivation, low self esteem, and poor study habits and skills. Other signs may include: history of learning difficulties attention and concentration problems recent trauma or life change dislike of school and failure to complete assignments family conflicts over homework difficulty in a particular subject, e.g. algebra need to prepare for high school or college entrance examinations English is a second language What Kind of Help is Available If you decide to seek additional help, you will need to determine which of the following is most appropriate for your child. Content tutoring: Assistance in one subject, such as reading or algebra Educational therapy: Assistance from an educational therapist or learning specialist who understands learning difficulties and disabilities. This professional can diagnose the problem(s), determine your child's best learning style, and design a remedial program for success in school. Testing: If there is indication that your child has learning difficulties, you may seek one of the following three levels of assessment: Diagnostic testing in one or more subject area, e.g., assessment of reading level or math competency A complete educational evaluation entailing four to six hours of assessing learning skills and aptitudes Psycho-educational evaluation or neuro-psychological evaluation involving six or more hours of IQ, psychological, neurological, and educational assessment Consultation: Assistance in dealing with the educational system, including grade placement, parental involvement with school and homework, and learning issues. Help with private school or college selection and application may also be offered. How to Choose a Qualified Provider You may want to ask a potential provider about professional credential(s), experience (especially as related to your student's needs), teaching methods, instructional style, and curriculum materials. You may also ask for references, written goals and objectives, program timeline, and measures of progress. Inquire about fees, cancellation policies, and procedures. It is also important to share information about your child. The more information a service provider has about your student, the better she or he can meet your needs. Report cards, achievement test scores, and other test results, such as school evaluation for special educational services, should be made available. After the first session, take time to evaluate whether your student and the provider are a good match before making a long term commitment. How to Use the Referral List To choose a tutor or other service provider, click on the appropriate age level or service button on the left side of the screen. Next, choose the subject area or service that interests you and the names of providers will appear. Clicking on a name will give you specific information about that person, including how to contact him or her. You may also view a complete alphabetical listing of providers by clicking on 'Print Referral List' on the Home Page or 'List of Providers' at the top of this page. Once you have identified an appropriate tutor or specialist, contact that person directly to discuss your child's particular needs and the provider's availability, fees, references, etc. Some providers work in their homes, some have offices, and some will go to a student's home, school, or local library. Fees vary from $45 to $150 per hour, depending on the professional's education and experience and the type of service provided. The individuals listed here have met certain prerequisites for membership in EPP. They must have a teaching credential, an advanced degree, or expertise in a particular subject, and they must provide a resume and three letters of recommendation. Inclusion on this list does not imply an endorsement of each member. You should speak with prospective providers to determine which one will best meet the needs of your child. For explanations of some of the terms and categories used in this website, including definitions of geographical locations, professional credentials, and learning programs, please refer to the Glossary. Thanks to Pamela Wilding, M.A, E.T., for her contributions to this information.