Tutoring can bring huge successes -- or unnecessary expenses

Their phone numbers and prices get printed in PTO newsletters, posted on bulletin boards, and passed among parents on the soccer fields.

But is a tutor a good idea for your child?

Educators say it depends on many factors -- cost, time, children's attitude, and the tutor's quality. Private tutors and tutoring centers are big business these days, spurred by parents' desire for one-on-one help and by the No Child Left Behind Act. The federal law requires some low-achieving schools to pay for tutoring.

Martha Pott, who teaches child development courses at Tufts University, offers these tips for parents:

First, determine whether the need for a tutor exists. If the child is performing on grade level or above, a tutor might be an unnecessary expense.

Exhaust all in-school options.

Consider activities you can do on your own with your child, such as setting aside time to help with math or daily reading.

If they hire a tutor, parents should set clear goals and time limits on the tutoring so their children don't feel there's something wrong with them, Pott said.

Tony and Staci Shuber of Mendon say that tutoring at a local Sylvan Learning Center worked for their son, Jack, who struggled with reading. As a first-grader, Jack got extra help at school, but still ended the year a grade level behind in reading. Jack, who also went to the center for math help, will enter third grade on grade level in reading and math this fall.

"This is great for little guys," Staci Shuber said. "It gives them more confidence. That's what he needed."