| With only a few weeks left until school starts, the | | | | their peers' and, in the end, polish a child's college |
| tutoring business is gearing up. And it is one | | | | application. |
| industry in America that seems immune to | | | | People have been pulling back for tutors charging |
| recession. More parents are paying for tutors for | | | | $250 to $400 an hour," said Sandy Bass, editor |
| their children. | | | | and publisher of Private School Insider, an online |
| According to Steve Pines, executive director of | | | | newsletter. "They're still using tutors, but they're |
| the Education Industry Association, spending on | | | | searching around for more reasonably priced help. |
| tutors is growing at more than 5 percent a year. | | | | In Manhattan, $85 to $150 is the acceptable range |
| This is down from yearly growth of 8 to 10 | | | | for reasonably priced." |
| percent in 2007, when the education research | | | | Mr. Pines of the Education Industry Association |
| firm EduVentures estimated the size of the | | | | said he had seen the same reassessment in the |
| tutoring industry at $5 billion to $7 billion a year. | | | | rest of the country, where the average rate was |
| But it is still strong, given the state of most | | | | $45 to $65 an hour. Parents who once would |
| people's personal finances. And Sandi Ayaz, | | | | have had in-home tutors are going to tutoring |
| executive director of the National Tutoring | | | | centers, while some using the centers have cut |
| Association, said the number of tutors her | | | | back on hours or moved to online-only platforms. |
| organization had certified had grown 18 percent in | | | | He said a rising player in this field is an online |
| each of the last five years. | | | | education company, that charges $90.00 a month |
| While tutors once focused on helping children who | | | | for help on an Internet platform. |
| were falling behind in particular subjects or had a | | | | HWA provides seamless online tuitions in sessions |
| learning disability, they are now being used far | | | | of 30 minutes, 60 minutes or 120 minutes |
| more to guide students through particularly tough | | | | covering a variety of subjects. |
| courses, insure their grades are equal to or above | | | | |