Children with reading difficulties benefit from the same thing all children benefit from — excellent reading instruction tailored to their needs. But sometimes kids who struggle need more.

Several people may be able to provide your child with extra help:

• Classroom teachers

  Your child's teacher may be able to provide more intensive instruction

• School specialists

  Specialists at your school — such as the reading specialist, speech/language pathologist, or special education teacher — may be able to provide extra assistance

• Tutors

  The school, another organization, or private tutors may be able to provide your child practice with reading or more intensive help

• Professionals in private practice

  Educational psychologists and other professionals in private practice may be able to provide an assessment, diagnosis, and/or a plan for helping your child

• Reading clinics

  University and private reading clinics may be able to provide an assessment, diagnosis, and/or a plan for helping your child

Help from private tutors and others outside of the school may be very effective but also quite expensive. Some public school services, which are free, are only provided if a child is diagnosed with a learning disability, the most common of which is difficulty with language and reading.

If you suspect your child may have a learning disability (or ADHD), the best place to begin seeking help is your child's school. Public schools have professionals trained to make a diagnosis. They do not charge a fee for these services.

If you disagree with the school's diagnosis, you have the right to ask for further testing or to seek a diagnosis from a professional in private practice. Similarly, if the school does not think it necessary to assess your child, you may want to seek a diagnosis from a professional in private practice.

Remember, in order to qualify for special education services or accommodations, your child must have a diagnosis that clearly shows he or she has a learning disability that meets the criteria defined by law. In general, federal law says that a person is eligible for accommodations when a documented disability significantly interferes with a major life activity such as learning. Most states use criteria related to the discrepancy between a child's ability and achievement. Federal laws also set clear guidelines on what special education accommodations must be provided.

The bottom line is that it's important to know upfront what services are available from the school and how a child's eligibility for those services is determined.

Tutoring

Sometimes kids just need an extra dose of reading help. Many schools provide tutoring support that includes one-on-one reading instruction. To make sure that your school has a high quality tutoring program, ask these questions:

• How are the tutors trained?

  It's important that the tutors understand the goals and purposes of the lesson.

• What is the structure of the tutoring session?

  Good tutoring programs use a lesson plan that is based in the best reading research.

• How frequently will my child receive tutoring?

  Students should be tutored at least twice a week, for 45 to 60 minutes each time. Some students will need more.

• Are the students assessed regularly to determine progress?

  A reading specialist should supervise the assessment program.

• What types of materials are used during the tutoring sessions?

  Students should be carefully guided through books that are written at their reading level.

• Does the content of the tutoring session support my child's classroom instruction?

  It should.

• Does the content address my child's specific needs?

  If your child sounds out words well but struggles with vocabulary, the tutor should spend more time on word meanings than phonics.

 

Find more parent-focused resources and information about getting tutoring help for your child (in English and Spanish), from our partner Understood. Learn more about tutoring >