Does each report card bring on a bad night for the whole family? Do you have a child who wants to do better in school, but just can't seem to get the grades he or she wants? It may be time to consider looking for additional help.

Children almost universally want to do well in school. Matching your child up with the right type of remediation or tutoring can take away a child's dread of learning and can boost self-confidence. Sometimes, the right type of help is as close as your child's school. It may even be free. Other times, you'll want private tutoring for your child, either by an individual, a tutoring center, or a website. Before you decide, you need to know exactly why your child needs additional help, and what types of programs are available.

Help at School

It makes sense to start your search for academic support in the environment your child knows best. Talk to your child's teacher or school guidance counselor to find out what types of programs are available at your child's school. You may be surprised by how much extra help is available for free.

After-School Programs

Many schools offer after-school remediation to children who come from low-income backgrounds or have below-average scores on standardized tests. These programs are usually free, and are typically taught by teachers at the school.

After-school programs have several benefits. People who know the school's curriculum teach these programs, and they reinforce skills taught in the regular classroom. Some schools offer homework help programs to support children as they complete homework assignments, which is a blessing to those students who feel like they forget the lesson as soon as they leave the classroom. They don't always last the entire school year, though, and won't help if a child has struggled so much that school has become a miserable place to be.

Free tutoring

Recently enacted by the federal government, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation requires some schools to provide free tutoring to low-income students. Schools who fail to make government-mandated progress three years in a row have to pay for private tutoring for students who qualify. Parents have to request this tutoring, so ask the school guidance counselor if it's an option.

The tutoring required by NCLB is some of the best. In order to be designated as an NCLB tutor, organizations have to show that their tutoring is research-based with a proven track record. The only drawback is that parents may have to travel; the program is new enough that certified tutors are not always nearby.

Special Education

In recent times, special education has gone from being a closeted environment for only the most severely disabled children to being a sophisticated group of programs that meets the needs of a wide variety of kids. Some of the programs include:

• Self-contained LD classes--Children with moderate to severe learning disabilities can benefit from smaller classes taught by special education teachers trained in adapting the curriculum to meet the needs of their students.
• Partial mainstreaming--Some children have learning disabilities that only affect them in one or two subjects. For these children, it makes sense to take most classes with the general school population, and to attend special education classes for their trouble areas.
• Full mainstreaming with classroom modifications--Children with mild learning disabilities or other health problems, such as attention deficit disorder or disgraphia, can be successful in regular education classrooms. Teachers can make modifications based on Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
• Other special education programs--Law requires that schools provide appropriate educational services for all children with disabilities, including emotional problems, retardation, and hearing or visual impairments.

The first step in placing your child into any special education program is to meet with the teacher or school guidance counselor and explain that you'd like your child to be considered for special education services. If school personnel agree that your child may be eligible, they will set up a series of tests to determine which program will be the best fit. You'll need to meet with teachers yearly to evaluate the placement.

Private Tutoring

Many parents choose to look outside the school for help with their children's schooling. Although it can become costly, private tutoring can be a great way for children to do better in school.

Individual Tutors

Finding a private tutor to come to your home and work one-on-one with your child can really help him or her pass a difficult subject. This sort of tutoring is a good short-term option to use when a child is doing poorly in one class, and needs extra support from an expert. Parents can choose between hiring another student, a teacher looking for extra income, or a community member who is an expert in the subject.

Tutoring Centers

For many students, enrolling in a tutoring center can make positive and long-term changes in grades, motivation, and confidence. Most tutoring centers start their programs by administering a series of tests, then create individualized plans based on each student's needs. Some of the subjects commonly found in tutoring centers include:

• Reading
• Math
• Study skills
• SAT preparation

While tutoring centers can be expensive, they usually offer some type of guarantee that children will improve their grades or test scores. Because tutoring centers are usually franchise operations with locations all over the country, their programs are standardized. Corporate offices manage quality assurance, so parents know exactly what to expect.

Online Tutoring

For children who have occasional questions on homework in advanced subjects, a subscription to an online tutoring service may be a good choice. Parents who find that their children take direction better when it comes from outside the home may also want to look into this option. Online tutoring services typically hire teachers or community experts to man the center during certain hours, and subscribers can log on as often as they wish during those hours to ask homework questions.

Conclusion

There is no one type of tutoring or academic help that works best for all children--each child has unique needs, and needs something slightly different. Luckily, parents have an incredible number of choices. Whether a child will do better in an after-school program, in special education classes, with a private tutor, in a tutoring center, or as a subscriber to an online tutoring service, parents and children are sure to find a situation that meets everybody's needs.