Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does S.O.S. sponsor programs outside of Northwest Ohio?
A: Since S.O.S. began in Northwest Ohio, most of the schools in which we operate are in that region. However, using our work locally as a model, we are expanding throughout the country and welcome inquiries from schools in other areas.

Q: Would S.O.S. sponsor a program in a private school?
A: No. We are firmly committed to public education.

Q: Do you have any rules about what kind of tutoring can take place, when or how often it can take place, or who can participate?
A: We leave it up to each school to determine the subject matter, scheduling, and frequency of their peer tutoring programs. Each school designs a program using the mix of tutors and tutees that would be effective in addressing the unique needs of its students. For example, a school might want 9th graders to tutor 4th graders; it might want 6th graders to tutor 5th graders; it might want seniors to tutor sophomores; it might want the better students on the school basketball team to tutor their less accomplished teammates. We are open to almost any educationally sound arrangement.

Q: Is there a minimum level of participation in S.O.S.?
A: No. Each school may devise its own peer tutoring program based on the need for tutoring, the number of available tutors, and the amount of matching funds the district is willing to contribute.

Q: Are matching funds required?
A: Yes. S.O.S. requires that each participating school match funds on a 1:1 basis.

Q: Are there any other requirements?
A: S.O.S. requires that at each participating school send us a report at the end of each school year describing how the program has worked. At present, we do not specify the contents of the report; this policy is, however, under review.

Q: Does S.O.S. support programs in which college students tutor children in K-12 schools?
A: No. S.O.S. is committed to elementary and secondary education. While a number of valuable programs exist that pair college students with younger students, it is our belief that peer tutoring at its best benefits both the tutor and the tutee. Therefore, in order to maximize the benefits of peer tutoring to K-12 students, S.O.S. only supports tutoring programs in which both the tutor and the tutee are in those grades.