Sylvan Learning Center Cost

[Zane_Anthony]

Thanks for all of your replies! I will definitely start with his teacher and go from there. I already send him to private school because I was not pleased with the public schools at all so it's really hard to swallow another $13,000+ on top of what I already pay for that. I am so glad I sent him to private school though, it has already made a world of difference in him. Thanks again!

 

[jstbcuz]

A few years ago we checked out sylvan too. We tried to get help during the school year through the school. We got nothing, until the end of the year when I got a price list from teachers willing to tutor him during the summer. I am a teacher's daughter and I know how busy they are, but I also know that my mom would never have ignored a child just to get extra money in the summer. We went to Sylvan and my son got individual sessions. He is now in high school, taking honors classes and has a 3.87 grade point.

Im glad to see a positive post here, as my daughter went to Sylvan for 3 years. During the school year we went every Sat for 4 hours and then during the summer we went 2x a week for 4 hours each time. My DD has struggled since KDG and we did everything we could think of for her. She was tested by school psychologist, and tho she was borderline in areas, she did not qualify for an IEP to get help at school. We struggled with homework nightly, and we'd be at it for HOURS!!!!! She'd cry, I'd cry...........it just wasnt working. She did the stay after school for help thing, they let her work in the office or hallway so there wasnt distractions. Nothing was working and she was getting further and further behind. She also didnt qualify for a 504 plan, because they couldnt pinpoint what her diagnosis was. Aaarrrrghhhh

Finally at the end of 5th grade I felt there was no other option. I had her tested at Sylvan, and cried when I found out the results. Her vocabulary skills were at a 2nd grade level. I dont remember how many hours they said it would take to get up to grade level. I think it was around 400. When you go once a week thats alot of time.

I drove an hour each way to Sylvan every Sat, and she attended for 4 hours. 2 hours of reading, and 2 hours of math. 3 years later..........after her 8th grade year, we reached the milestone. Now while there were teachers that she didnt connect with, we always requested the ones she had the best rapport with. That helps tremendously!! Also, the child has got to WANT to get better. She never complained all during that time that we had to get up at 6:30AM to go. Which also meant that she had no friends over or went to someone elses house on Friday because we had to get up early. And the other factor is the parent has got to be committed to it too.

She is now a sophmore in HS and is doing great. She had a 3.55 GPA this past quarter, and doesnt struggle. What a joy!!!!

Bottom line is I was at a stalemate, and it wasnt right for her to struggle. I knew it was a lot of $$$, but I felt like there was nothing to lose in trying. If I did it and it didnt work, I was out some $$$, but if it could have worked and I didnt try, I wasnt doing justice to my DD.

 

[sk!mom]

Teacher, here. I have had students who made tremendous improvements with Sylvan's program and then others who didn't do as well.

That being said, I would hire a private tutor. I would also push the school to do an assessment for a possible learning disability. They often want to put that off as long as possible because if the testing reveals problems then the school has to provide services.

 

[shaylahc1]

I think you should take some of that money and spend it on having your child evaluated for learning disabilities. I personally believe that a lot of children who are "slow" readers or who struggle in school have learning disabilities. How can someone possibly "treat" a condition without really knowing what it is? It's kinda like throwing money at a problem hoping it will go away. Sylvan is pretty useless IMHO. Most of those "teachers" aren't even certified and they often work 1 "teacher" to 2 or 3 students. What a crock

My 7 y.o. was diagnosed with giftedness and dyslexia at 6. Thankfully I did NOT wait for the school system to deal with it. Her Kindy teacher told me she was lagging behind all the other kids academically. I knew we had a problem. I was SHOCKED when the psychologist said she had an IQ of 135. I don't think we would have ever known had we not had her formally tested. It was a relief to know her poor performance was due to learning disabilities and not laziness or not being "smart enough".

The testing was not covered by insurance.....set us back about $1500 but was worth every penny.

 

[branv]

I may have missed something, but has your son been tested for learning disabilities? DH returned to college as an adult and struggled so much, just as he had as a child. But he was passed through the system as "lazy" rather than helped or tested in any way. I finally encouraged him to be tested for dyslexia, as there were some pretty obvious flags. What we learned was that our insurance, Humana, covered testing by a clinic that included a neuropsychiatrist, a speech therapists, etc. When we went in, we saw everything from young children, teenagers, to elderly patients. It was really amazing, they had a great rapport with the kids we saw there, and they were so helpful to my DH. I would just check with your insurance to see what they cover.

That being said, I know Scottish Rite has a learning center here for children with learning disabilities. They offer testing as well as assistance for those diagnosed with a problem.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Zane_Anthony]

Teacher, here. I have had students who made tremendous improvements with Sylvan's program and then others who didn't do as well.

That being said, I would hire a private tutor. I would also push the school to do an assessment for a possible learning disability. They often want to put that off as long as possible because if the testing reveals problems then the school has to provide services.

Thanks for the info! My son goes to private school so I think the resources there for this type of problem may be limited but not sure I will have to find out. If they do not offer testing for this then do you have any idea of who would do this type of testing? Is it something a university would offer? I guess I just didn't realize how "severe" his problem is. I knew he was struggling this year (made his first C--76) so that's why I looked into some additional help but I definitely didn't think he was on a Kindergarten level as Sylvan has suggested.

 

[Zane_Anthony]

I may have missed something, but has your son been tested for learning disabilities? DH returned to college as an adult and struggled so much, just as he had as a child. But he was passed through the system as "lazy" rather than helped or tested in any way. I finally encouraged him to be tested for dyslexia, as there were some pretty obvious flags. What we learned was that our insurance, Humana, covered testing by a clinic that included a neuropsychiatrist, a speech therapists, etc. When we went in, we saw everything from young children, teenagers, to elderly patients. It was really amazing, they had a great rapport with the kids we saw there, and they were so helpful to my DH. I would just check with your insurance to see what they cover.

That being said, I know Scottish Rite has a learning center here for children with learning disabilities. They offer testing as well as assistance for those diagnosed with a problem.

Best of luck to you.

The thought of dyslexia has crossed my mind just by some of the problems I see ( b/d , 9/p , and he gets the letters mixed up on a lot of his spelling test) In fact I actually contacted Scottish Rite and I have the packet to have my physician fill out to refer him there. I just am not sure where to turn. I know there is an issue there and I just have no idea where to start I decided to put a hold on the dyslexia thing and have him tested at Sylvan but maybe I need to go back to that. He is excellent in math--98 and does just fine in everything else but spelling/reading/language which of course can affect everything!.

 

[sk!mom]

Thanks for the info! My son goes to private school so I think the resources there for this type of problem may be limited but not sure I will have to find out. If they do not offer testing for this then do you have any idea of who would do this type of testing? Is it something a university would offer? I guess I just didn't realize how "severe" his problem is. I knew he was struggling this year (made his first C--76) so that's why I looked into some additional help but I definitely didn't think he was on a Kindergarten level as Sylvan has suggested.

I'm sorry- I didn't read all of the responses and didn't realize that your son was in private school. I would fill out the Scottish Rite paperwork and pursue evaluations before I made a tutoring decision. As others suggested, it's pretty difficult to decide on the best way to help until you understand the problem. Your Pediatrician can be another good source for evaluation recommendations.

Hang in there- I understand how difficult and overwhelming this can be.

 

[Vijoge]

My son goes to private school so I think the resources there for this type of problem may be limited but not sure I will have to find out. If they do not offer testing for this then do you have any idea of who would do this type of testing?

Your public school district should be required to provide the testing, for free. Your private school administrator will be able to tell you who to contact.

 

[geetey]

Thanks for the info! My son goes to private school so I think the resources there for this type of problem may be limited but not sure I will have to find out. If they do not offer testing for this then do you have any idea of who would do this type of testing? Is it something a university would offer? I guess I just didn't realize how "severe" his problem is. I knew he was struggling this year (made his first C--76) so that's why I looked into some additional help but I definitely didn't think he was on a Kindergarten level as Sylvan has suggested.

Another private school Mom here... While your school won't have the ability to test your son, they should have the info to get him tested through the public system (free) or through a private provider. We chose private because my dd's grades would have delayed her testing date (they take those doing the worst first but must address each applicant within a year of application). Our small private school has 2 learning consultants on staff - one for K thru 4, one for 5-8. Please check with your administration. They can give you the information to get started in the right direction. Good luck!

My dd started struggling in K. In 2nd grade she was finally tested. 4th grade lead to further testing with a diagnosis. Lucky for her, she is VERY hard working (homework has been taking 3 hours a night since 1st grade). She knows she has to work harder than other kids - that her brain works a little different, but that's okay. We applaud her effort - not necessarily her grade (on a test or paper). She just finished her first quarter in high school and got 2 A's, 1 B+, 5 B's. I know how frustrating this can be! Don't give up. Keep in mind - nothing moves as fast as the Mom would like.

 

[Zane_Anthony]

Thanks for the information. I did not realize the public school system would still be required to help if he was not enrolled.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Thanks for the information. I did not realize the public school system would still be required to help if he was not enrolled.

You pay taxes just like parents of kids who do attend the public schools do so you have access to the resources. Call the school district and ask what is available in your area.

Good luck!

 

[shelly3girls]

Your story sounds similar to ours. We noticed DD was not progressing in reading/writing in 1st grade although she excelled in Math. The school refused to test her b/c she was only in 1st grade and the teacher kept saying she was so smart she would get it. We hired a private tutor who teaches in a nearby school district. She pushed us to have DD evaluated by a Dr at a nearby children's hospital. Her results were completely in line with what we expected and we are now in the process of pushing the school to give her the help she needs. Fortunately we now have a 2nd grade teacher who is very supportive of getting the help DD needs. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions about how we went about having her tested, what the testing was like and what the signs were that triggered our concerns.

BTW, our testing ran about $1300 but our health insurance paid the whole bill. We only had to pay a $30 specialist co-pay.

 

[fac]

DD10 is at grade 5 and has been attending Sylvan for 3 months. I do not see any significant improvement, but DD seems to like it and I plan to continue, at least, for a few more months.

Here is our situation...basically we have tried different options

I noticed DD has a learning problem since K and have been discussing with her teachers in every grade level. She attends public school and we are in a good school district. I sent her to enrichment center for phonics while she was in K and 1st grade. I paid $60 per hour for her school teacher to tutor her when she was in 1st grade, but it was only for about 4 months and did not continue when her teacher left the school. I did not think the teacher had her mind in teaching.

I also sent her to eScore which uses computerized program to teach the kids, after a few months I don't think it was what she needed.


She has a very good 2nd grade teacher. With the teacher's help, she got into the IEP program in 3rd grade for both language art and Math. Her IEP teachers for IEP are good in 3rd and 4th grade, I also help. I think her 3rd grade Language Art teacher was too busy at the time. Her class in the IEP program consists of 3 to 5 students and she has always been the top of the class for Math in the IEP program which got me worry. She knows the multiplication table from the back of her head, but the other kids are still struggling with addition.

What I realize is that when kids are behind, their level can be very different, what they really need is individual tutoring. I decided to pull her of the IEP program for Math. I am glad I did, she is doing okay, probably will be a B student.

I was considering either private tutor or Sylvan during summer. Sylvan is charging around $50 per hour, but with 3 kids per teacher, it is like $50 per 20 minutes. However, the problem is that success of private tutoring depends heavily on the teacher at this age, I am not able to get a teacher I have confidence in. I do not need a homework helper, I need someone to be able to focus on the area she has problem on. I do not have a good experience with the private tutor she had when she was in 1st grade.

I also aware that Sylvan does not pay the teacher well, and I am concerned about the quality of the teachers. I know they are certified, but it really does not mean too much for me. However, I bought the idea that they evaluate the kids, teach them based on the grade level they are in. They also emphasize that they have the material, which in opinion. is very important for reinforcement. (I know I can buy the exercise books etc). I am also aware that we are not guaranteed to have the same teacher, but I am giving this method a try. I do believe it depends on how the center is run and each child is different. If I am able to find a good teacher, I may switch.


To add..
During summer, I also sent DD8 to be tested as I was told by the teacher that she is behind is her reading. I thought she is bright and was surpised by the evaluation even I agreed (will leave that for anther discussion). After looking at the result, the center director was suprised as she thought DD8 does not need to attend the program. Not sure whether she said this because she thought it would be too much to pay for both kids. But then, after the first test, we were called back to do the second test for DD8 on the same day because they did not see any deficiency from the test, therefore they decided to give her a higher level test. I do think DD8 is behind in her reading, but as I said we are in a good school district.

 

[jlima]

After telling someone I know who is a teacher that story theay told me that MANY teachers tutor on the side for MUCH MUCH less and that you should always ask their teacher for reference/referral.

I second this; a Kindergarten teacher at DS8's school tutored him during 1st and 2nd grade; it was $50/hour but the homework help and spelling techniques she did were tremendous and made a huge difference.

 

[MKCP5]

Does anyone have any experience with Sylvan Learning centers? I have heard they are really good but expensive. I was thinking $4000-$5000 which is high but I figured it might be worth it. My son is in 2nd grade and struggling with reading/language. I took him for his assessment and almost passed out when I found out just how expensive it really is, my estimate was $13,000-$15,000 Does anyone know of any other good programs out there to help with reading/language skills? I have looked online and found several but don't want to waste the time if they are not going to work. He is still passing but I figure it will get worse as time goes on. I have tried working with him myself but I just don't remember learning the way they are being taught so it's confusing to both of us.

I would think LONG and HARD before giving them your $$$ They make absolute fortunes off of people and their managers are paid on quotas for how many people they get in and signed. Hiring someone local who is a teacher or educator and having them meet one on one with your child is a much better investment IMO and fractional financially to signing up with all their baloney.

 

[IntercomGroupPage]

OP, it is still developmentally appropriate for a second grader to "reverse" letters and numbers in writing.

I think Sylvan is a big ol' racket.

 

[shelly3girls]

OP, it is still developmentally appropriate for a second grader to "reverse" letters and numbers in writing.

I think Sylvan is a big ol' racket.

It really depends on how often and what letters. If it is a simple "b" or "d" once in a while then not a big deal. We were told by many professionals that by 2nd grade most inversions should be gone. If DS is inverting several letters and numbers then there may possibly be a problem. Of course, it does not mean there is but if you have been working to eliminate the problem and nothing is working then I would look into it.

ETA: If there is a problem or LD then I do not think I would trust Sylvan to treat it. I would find someone who specializes in LD's hopefully in school or through the district. If there is an LD then the school must provide support (at least in NJ they have to by law).

 

[uromac]

Hi!

I will echo a lot of the same things people have said already. My now dd15 went through everything - From Sylvan in 1st grade (waste of $) - then we had he private educational tested through Rowan University here in NJ that January (school district said we would have to wait until we went through all the steps). She does have a processing disorder - Dyslexia. She was pulled out for reading/math initailly and had an IEP through 9th grade and now goes to a private school. The county still provides services if she needs it and gets extra time for tests.

I echo the idea of Scottish Rite/Masons for tutoring. Their tutoring is a Wilson based reading tutoring program which really helped my daughter. Try to find a reading specialist that has a background in Wilson and/or the Lindamood-Bell reading systems and uses a multisensory approach - and not just a teacher/paid program like Sylvan. My daughter's tutor actually had to reteach her how to read and in our case it really did work. Every beginning of the school year is a struggle as my daughter has to get back into the swing of things She has been tutored almost all of her life either by me, dh, teachers, private tutors, etc., but we have always been positive and proactive and college is now ahead of us and there are great schools with support out there. If you have also I have google/read up on books by Mel Levine and Sally Shaywitz to get an insight into learning disabilities and Dyslexia and Education. Also in our case we told my dd how many talented people who learned 'out of the box' and had dyslexia - including Walt Disney!!

 

[uromac]

Hi Again!

I just wanted to add that you can also go to greatschools.com which has a special section with Learning Disabilities to help you out - that section used to be Schwablearning.com (initially supported directly through Charles Schwab who is dyslexic and has made it his life mission to help others like himself). Also what really helped my daughter was a fun website for kids with learning disabilities with games, stories, etc.. Sparktop.org it really made my daughter feel that there were others like her out there. Also for testing Mel Levine has a program 'All kinds of minds' in North Carolina and NY (long wait and a lot of money but worth it if you can afford it) also he has a website - allkindsofminds.org. Right now, you can make learning fun try fun ways to learn with games and a multisensory approach - rhyming, games, etc... I know it's a lot of information and right now it is very confusing for both you and your child, but there are many of use out there have gone through similar situations, so please do not hesitate to ask.

Good Luck!

Melissa