Atlanta's 19 school districts serve over 93,000 students with varying levels of support and resources. Personalized tutoring fills gaps by providing one-on-one attention that classroom settings—even with Atlanta's average 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio—cannot always offer. Tutors can focus intensively on areas where a student is struggling, reinforce IEP goals, prepare for assessments, or build confidence in specific academic or life skills.

Yes. Tutors can work directly toward IEP objectives, reinforce strategies recommended by your student's school team, and help practice skills in a low-pressure environment. It's helpful to share your student's IEP or 504 plan with the tutor so they understand specific goals, accommodations, and learning strategies already in place. This alignment ensures tutoring complements and strengthens what's happening at school rather than working in isolation.

Students with learning differences often struggle with reading fluency and comprehension, math fact fluency and problem-solving, executive function skills like organization and time management, and building confidence after repeated academic struggles. Many also face social-emotional challenges like anxiety around testing or peer relationships. Personalized tutoring addresses these root causes directly, breaking skills into smaller steps and celebrating incremental progress to rebuild confidence.

The first session focuses on getting to know your student—their strengths, interests, learning style, and specific challenges. The tutor will ask about academic history, current goals, and any relevant documentation like IEPs or assessment results. This foundation helps the tutor design a personalized plan that builds on what your student does well while systematically addressing areas that need support.

Most students benefit from consistent weekly sessions, though frequency can be adjusted based on needs and goals. Some students need intensive support during specific periods (like before standardized testing), while others thrive with ongoing weekly instruction. Progress timelines vary—some students show confidence and skill improvements within 4-6 weeks, while deeper academic gains may take several months of consistent work. Regular check-ins help track progress and adjust the plan as needed.

Varsity Tutors connects students with tutors who have expertise in special education, learning differences, and evidence-based instructional strategies. Many have backgrounds in special education teaching, speech-language pathology, educational psychology, or related fields. Tutors are matched based on your student's specific needs—whether that's dyslexia support, autism spectrum support, ADHD strategies, or general academic skill-building.

Progress is tracked through multiple measures: skill assessments at the start and periodically throughout tutoring, progress toward specific IEP goals, improved grades or test scores, and qualitative observations like increased confidence or independence. Tutors provide regular updates and can share concrete examples of growth—like reading a more complex text, solving multi-step problems, or managing time more effectively. This data helps ensure tutoring stays focused on what matters most to your student and family.