Homework help: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What homework help is

Homework help means a helper sits with a student after school to work through assignments, explain instructions and build good routines for finishing work. Parents book it when homework time turns into a daily fight, when a child has no routine for finishing assignments, or when a parent cannot help with the subjects being taught.

Signs you need it

  • Homework starts late every night and ends in tears or arguments
  • Your child forgets to write down assignments or leaves them at school
  • Your child does not understand the instructions and skips parts of the work
  • You cannot help with the subject, and your child waits for you to figure it out
  • Your child finishes the work but the teacher says it is incomplete or wrong

What the pro does

  • Checks the day's assignments and reads the instructions with the student
  • Helps the student plan the order of the work and set a clear start time
  • Sits beside the student while they work, asking questions instead of giving answers
  • Checks finished work for completeness and asks the student to fix the gaps
  • Gives the parent a short note about what was done and what needs to be checked at home

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of each session and how many afternoons per week
  • The student's age and grade level
  • Whether sessions are at home, at a center or online
  • One-on-one help versus a small group
  • The subjects covered and how many subjects each session needs
  • Whether the helper also reviews the teacher's portal or assignment list

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of sessions per week, session length and the start date
  • Where sessions happen and whether travel is included
  • Whether the helper checks the teacher's portal or assignment list
  • Cancellation and make-up policy
  • Whether the helper will share a short daily note with the parent

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How do you help a student who does not understand the instructions?
  • Will you check the teacher's portal or assignment list each day?
  • Do you give answers, or do you guide the student to find them?
  • How do you handle a child who will not start work?
  • How will you tell me what was done and what still needs attention?
  • Has everyone who works with my child passed a background check?
  • What routine do you suggest for the first two weeks?

Red flags

  • Does the homework for the child rather than helping them learn
  • Will not say whether helpers have a background check
  • Leaves the child alone for long periods with no check on progress
  • Promises better grades without looking at the child's work

What you can do yourself

Set a fixed time and place for homework, check the planner each night, and ask your child to show you what they did before they put it away. Keep a list of the teacher's assignments on the fridge. Hire a helper when the routine keeps breaking down, when you cannot help with a subject, or when your child needs someone to sit with them every afternoon.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to provide homework help privately. If the helper works in a school or after-school program, that program may have its own rules. Ask whether the helper has teaching or child care experience, and check with your state or local licensing agency for any rules that apply to after-school or child care programs.

Homework help questions

Is homework help different from tutoring?

Yes. Homework help focuses on finishing the work and building a routine. Tutoring focuses on a skill or a subject gap. Some students need both, and a helper can tell you when a tutor is the better fit.

How do I know if my child needs homework help or a tutor?

If the work is done but the routine is the problem, a helper is a good fit. If the child is missing a skill the work depends on, a tutor who teaches that skill is a better fit.

Does the helper need a background check?

Many parents and programs expect one. Ask for proof of a background check before the first session, and ask about the program's rules for pickup, drop-off and supervision.

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