Tutoring

Tutoring Guidelines of the Sudbury Public Schools

We are pleased to provide you with a copy of the Tutoring Guidelines for Sudbury Public Schools. Before the development of these guidelines, an administrative procedure existed (the four bulleted items in the second paragraph of the guidelines) which governed tutoring that staff members might engage in outside of their regular employment with the district. These guidelines are effective January 3, 2006.

In the past there has been confusion and misunderstanding around the role and responsibilities of a teacher who is employed by parents as a tutor, placing tutors, colleagues, parents and sometimes students in awkward, conflicting or stressful positions. In the spirit of collaboration, members of the Sudbury Educational Association (SEA) and the Sudbury Administrative Leadership Team (SALT) came together to develop a set of professional parameters around tutoring that would assist staff, tutors and parents to make the relationship successful.

The SEA and SALT believe that this collaborative approach is a professional means for addressing problems and conflicts that have occurred in the past. We expect staff members who chose to tutor Sudbury students to adhere to these guidelines. If you have any questions about the guidelines, their intent or interpretation, please contact your SEA leadership or SALT administrator.

In developing these Tutoring Guidelines, the SEA, SALT or SPS do not endorse individual tutors or promote the need for tutoring for any district student.

Sudbury Public Schools Tutoring Guidelines

It is recognized that teachers in the Sudbury Public Schools may at times choose to take part in private, fee-for-service tutoring of Sudbury students.

It is the requirement of the Sudbury Public Schools that:

• This tutoring must occur outside of workday.

• Shall not take place in any Sudbury Public Schools' facilities.

• Materials provided for Sudbury Public School students shall not be used for private fee-for-service tutoring (except materials issued to the student-e.g. textbook.)

• Sudbury Public Schools staff members are not permitted to provide fee-for-service tutoring to their current students.

The following guidelines were developed collaboratively between Sudbury Public Schools administrators and members of the Sudbury Education Association. They are designed to provide guidance for parents and tutors.

By its nature, tutoring allows for a relationship to develop between a tutor and the family of the student receiving tutoring services. Because of that, uncomfortable situations may (and have in the past) arise. Prior to accepting any tutoring assignments, all Sudbury Public Schools staff should carefully consider the following:

1. Staff members who choose to tutor understand that they do so as private contractors and not agents of Sudbury Public Schools. The staff member understands and accepts all liability that might result from any tutoring arrangement, understands the need for high ethical and professional standards, and the application and implications of the Conflict of Interest laws.

2. Experience has shown that tutoring students in the same grade level and same school as the staff member teaches has the potential to create conflicts of interest and unintended stress or discord in collegial relationships

3. Tutoring children who do not live in the staff member's attendance district presents the least likelihood for conflict of interest cases to arise, therefore staff members who desire tutoring positions within Sudbury should network with colleagues across the district

4. Any private tutoring assignments must remain private. Sudbury Public Schools staff members who tutor shall not make recommendations for a student's school-based program, nor shall be included in decisions about testing, IEP changes, or teacher assignments.

5. It is expected that Sudbury Public Schools staff members who are tutoring shall not share their personal opinions about other Sudbury Public Schools staff members, schools, or school programs and curriculum with the student being tutored or his/her family.

6. Sudbury Public Schools staff may not testify against the Sudbury Public Schools or a staff member/consultant unless they have been subpoenaed.

7. Sudbury Public Schools staff, who choose to tutor, shall not serve as a student advocate on behalf of the parent or outside party, will not be included in team meetings, IEP meetings, conferences, or class placement decision on the basis of being a student's tutor. They may be included if invited to participate by the school principal.

For a current list of tutors, please contact your child's Grade Level Counselor