Elementary school- Child failing- why doesn't my school recommend a tutor?

Question

Why did they pass on to the next grade? Should I get tutoring in elementary or wait?

Answer 1

1. It's not that your child doesn't need help!
2. Why Schools Often Don't Recommend Tutors:
3. Financial Liability: If a school formally recommends tutoring, especially for students with identified learning needs, they could be legally obligated to pay for it based on state and federal laws (like IDEA). Schools, facing tight budgets, aim to avoid this significant financial burden.
4. Budget Strain: Public schools are frequently crowded and underfunded. Their resources are already stretched, making it difficult to fund individual tutoring.
5. Why Students Are Passed On (Not Held Back):
6. Student Needs: For English Language Learners (ELL/ESL) and students with special needs, retention can be detrimental to their social-emotional development and school integration.
7. Logistics & Budget: Holding back a large number of students would worsen overcrowding and further strain already limited school resources.
8. The Shocking Truth About Early Struggles:
9. Kindergarten Math Impact: Research shows that early math skills at kindergarten entry are a stronger predictor of later academic achievement than early reading skills. Deficits in executive functions (like working memory) in kindergarten can also increase the risk for repeated academic difficulties in math, reading, and science through third grade.
10. 3rd Grade Reading & High School Graduation: This is a critical benchmark: One in six children not reading proficiently by the end of third grade do not graduate from high school on time, a rate four times greater than that for proficient readers. For the lowest-skilled readers, this rate can be nearly six times greater. Similar strong correlations exist for early math proficiency and later academic success.
11. Call to Action: Get Help Today!
12. Don't Wait: Given these powerful statistics, waiting for the school to recommend tutoring is not an option. You are your child's most important advocate.
13. Seek Support: Take action now to find qualified tutors. Individualized tutoring can provide the targeted support your child needs to build essential foundational skills, regain confidence, and succeed academically. Early intervention is key to ensuring your child's successful future.

Michele Wolber Landskron is a experienced educator with over 30 years of teaching and tutoring experience. She specializes in working with elementary and middle school children grades K-8 with learning gaps, English as a second language learners and students struggling with phonetics, reading comprehension, writing, spelling and math. She tutors both online and in person and would be happy to give you a free consultation today! Call 765 346-0053 to schedule or book an instant booking tutoring appointment .

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Michele W.

Answer 2

In more recent years, many schools have just passed students on to the next grade, which is unfortunate, especially when the student is clearly struggling. It only sets them further back in the next school year. This may have to do with district policy, funding, or lack of resources.

If you notice your child is struggling, you should immediately get help. First, ask the teacher, "Why is my child struggling"? Is the seating chart not a good fit ( for me, I had to be in the front where I could see the board - even with my glasses) and there would be less disractions, do they need help taking notes, do they need clarification on the material, is there a learning-teaching style difference, is there a possibility my child has a learning difference. Once those are addressed, absolutely get a tutor. It's best to have one to help them, regardless of the reason. I struggled in school, especially with math. There was a retired teacher who would come to my school's after-school care program and help kids with math. He helped me so much. The school never told my parents about him; he was just there, and when I asked what he was doing, my parents said I should sit with him while I did my math homework. He helped me so much.

I have over 10 years of experience in tutoring students K - College, with a majority of that with K - 5 students. I would love to help you and your child. If you would like to schedule an online session, please feel free to reach out.

Answer 3

When a child is struggling in elementary school, it’s natural for parents to wonder why the school isn’t recommending a tutor, especially if the child is “failing” or not meeting expectations. This can be confusing, as you may receive mixed answers from people/organizations with different priorities.

First, it’s important to understand why schools don’t always explicitly recommend outside tutoring. Often, schools are focused on providing as much internal support as possible. They may offer small-group instruction, intervention programs, or extra help from teachers during school hours. Recommending outside tutoring can also be politically or administratively complicated; schools may worry that it implies they cannot meet the child’s needs themselves. Additionally, many districts have policies about not endorsing specific outside services to avoid conflicts of interest or equity concerns. For these reasons, even when a child is clearly struggling, you may not hear the school explicitly tell you to hire a tutor, and some may even talk directly against it.

Now, why would the school promote a child to the next grade if they’re failing? The answer lies in how promotion decisions are typically made. Schools consider more than just academic grades; they weigh social and emotional development, the child’s age, and the potential psychological harm of retention. Many districts have policies that make holding a student back rare, reserved for only the most severe cases of academic delay. The idea is that with the right support in the next grade, the child might catch up better than if held back. While this approach can make sense in some situations, it doesn’t mean the problem will resolve on its own; additional help is often still needed.

This leads to the key question: Should you get tutoring now, or wait? The answer is that it’s usually best to start as soon as possible. Elementary school is the time when children build essential foundational skills in reading, writing, and math. Gaps that form early can widen quickly, making it harder to catch up later. Early tutoring can help close those gaps before they become larger, boost the child’s confidence, and reduce school-related anxiety. However, most importantly, early age tutoring supports self-growth within a young student. Many students are lacking the motivation, reason, and interest in improving their grades or even just learning new, more difficult subjects. By promoting comprehension and understanding, along with teaching that encourages small wins, a student not only improves in basic school subjects but also their study skills, focus skills, and problem-solving skills. Rather than letting your child struggle for another year and hoping things improve on their own, investing in tutoring now is often the most effective way to support their long-term success.

I was, and many people I knew, students who struggled in elementary school. That early-age tutoring helped me develop the skills I needed to excel in high-school and now college, and I recommend you begin looking at tutoring now!

I'd love to help your child as I have experience tutoring elementary and middle school students! I tutor online and would be happy to help your student. Please message me or contact me if you are interested.