Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you offer your services?
We work with children in the Jacksonville area, including Duval, St. Johns and Clay counties. We have offices located in Mandarin and Ponte Vedra. In some cases, our teachers meet with students on school campuses or public libraries.
Do tutors have contact with my child's teacher?
With parental consent, our Learning Specialists work in partnership with your child’s school.
How often will my child need to attend tutoring sessions?
The frequency of your child’s tutoring is determined by your child’s needs and the program we are providing. We recommend twice a week for 60 minutes. Intensive reading intervention requires a minimum of 2 hours per week. The recommended frequency may change depending on your child’s needs and goals.
What is the length of time my child will need tutoring services?
The length of time that a child requires tutoring is highly individualized and is determined by the program, session frequency, and student progress. Typically our students work with our learning specialists for a semester. Reading intervention usually takes 1-3 years for effective remediation.
How do I know if my child needs tutoring?
Children may benefit from tutoring if they are struggling to learn, lacking motivation, lacking confidence, avoiding homework, having trouble focusing, or consistently getting poor grades. In some cases, children have set goals and need assistance or new strategies in order to achieve those goals and tutoring provides them with the tools needed to be successful.
How do I get started?
We begin with a conversation about your child’s needs, academic history, interests, and strengths and weaknesses. If your child has had a psychoeducational evaluation, Dr. Edward C. Taylor will review the report free of charge. This information allows us to develop an individualized instructional plan for your child. If your child is struggling with learning and does not have a current psychoeducational evaluation which would allow us to understand the factors creating the struggle, we will discuss with you the potential usefulness of an evaluation.
Does insurance pay for tutoring services?
Unfortunately, The Learning Specialists provide educational services that are not covered by insurance.
Why don’t we prepare students for standardized tests in group settings?
Group settings could never allow us to understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses the way a one-on-one setting allows us to do. Working with a student individually enables us to target your child’s needs; there is no time wasted on teaching skills that your child already knows. Many students are embarrassed to admit the skills they lack when peers are present. Our one-on-one approach removes this barrier to learning and establishes a “coaching environment” for the student.
How long should the Service Agreement last?
The length of the Service Agreement will depend on the needs of your child. The director usually recommends that you extend the Service Agreement for several weeks beyond the test date so test scores are received prior to disconnecting services with The Learning Specialists. In this way, your child will be able to retain the scheduled appointment time with the same teacher if he or she should decide to stay on for more preparation. If you decide to end the Service Agreement before the test results are received, there is no guarantee that we can provide that continuity.
Should my child prep for the ACT/SAT or both?
The director will help you decide which test to prep for based on your child’s academic history and learning style. This information is discussed during the “intake” phone consult. This consult is free of charge.
How many hours will it take?
There is no way to answer this question without the background information about your child. Since our program is individualized, each child will have a different Student Plan. This information is discussed during the “intake” phone consult.
Do we guarantee scores will improve?
We cannot guarantee scores will improve since there are so many factors involved with the testing experience. However, we have experienced tremendous success with our students and our clients are very pleased with the results the students have achieved.
Why should I choose The Learning Specialists for Test Prep?
We offer a unique opportunity for your child to develop a relationship with a dedicated, experienced teacher who will teach your child the skills and strategies he or she needs to navigate the complicated world of standardized testing. We use a research-based program to provide students with the necessary tools to reach their goals.
How do we determine which subject to teach?
This is determined during the “intake” phone consult. Some students need to lay the foundation for Critical Reading by teaching writing/English first. Others already have a solid foundation for writing and will begin with the Critical Reading. Not all students will require math preparation. This decision is based on the student’s prior scores and the information shared by the parent. If a student has a history of learning disabilities, the director will take that information into consideration as well.
Must my child have a learning disability to be serviced by The Learning Specialists for Test Prep?
Absolutely not. We service all students who want to improve their scores for whatever reason: to get into Ivy League schools, to satisfy a concordant score for the FCAT, or simply to reach a specific goal to gain acceptance into the college of their choice. However, if your child has a learning disability, we are qualified to address his or her special needs. Because The Learning Specialists is an affiliate of Dr. Edward C. Taylor, we have the added benefit of being able to consult with him regarding clinical issues.
What makes our program different from the rest?
Our program is different because our goal is two-fold. We not only want to help your child increase scores for entrance to the college of his or her choice, but we also want to establish a solid foundation so your child will achieve success at the college level. Many students report that the critical skills taught by our program have helped them perform better academically while still in high school. Establishing a strong skill base before entering college is crucial if your child wants to avoid placement in a “remedial class” in college. Remedial classes in college do not provide your child with college credits, however, you will be charged for that course at the college level prices. Our program offers the opportunity to avoid that situation.
Why do we require a service agreement?
We require a service agreement because it outlines our policies and describes the structure of the financial and service relationship. You are able to cancel your service agreement by submitting a written notice to the office two weeks prior to the date of disconnection.
How do I extend my current service agreement?
Parents will be contacted prior to the end of their service agreement to find out if they are interested in continuing with their Learning Specialists. However, parents interested in continuing can inform their Learning Specialists at any time. Once the new session dates are scheduled between the parent and the tutor, the office manager will process a new service agreement.
Can extra sessions be added to the current service agreement?
Extra sessions can be added to the current service agreement. Parents are billed for additional sessions at the end of each month.