Reprinted from SmartMoney.com.

1. “We don’t have to stick to any educational standards.”
News of failing schools and the increasing competitiveness of colleges have made education a big concern for parents. To the rescue, perhaps, comes the “supplemental education” business, an estimated $2 billion-and-growing industry that includes private tutors, retail tutoring centers and test-preparation centers.

While schools must now meet federally mandated standards, these criteria don’t apply to supplemental education companies. “You could end up with an excellent tutor who put up a flier at the grocery store, or a crummy tutor from a national organization,” says David Hollingsworth, a private tutor in New York City who trained with test-prep powerhouse Kaplan.

To get the best help possible, start with a reliable referral — say, a favorite teacher at your child’s school — then focus on credentials and experience. Ask learning centers where they find tutors and if they do background checks; if tutors are certified teachers, that’s a good sign. Then get references: Ask past clients if the child’s grades went up, if the tutor was reliable and, most important, if the tutor and child had a good rapport. As Hollingsworth says, “You need someone who’s good with kids.”

2. “Our rates aren’t always pinned to quality.”
Costs for tutoring can vary wildly, depending on whether your child gets private or group tutoring, and whether he receives it in-home or at a center. “In general, anywhere from $35 to $65 an hour is what you’re going to be paying for good tutoring,” says Gene Wade, CEO of Platform Learning, a New York-based firm that develops tutoring programs for public schools. But if you’re looking for specialized tutoring, including SAT test prep, or live in a big city, the costs can multiply. In Boston rates can range from $50 to $125 an hour; in New York City they can go as high as $400 an hour.

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