Students in special education often struggle with reading fluency and comprehension, math fact automaticity and problem-solving, executive function skills like organization and time management, and social-emotional learning. Many also face difficulty transferring skills learned in one setting to another, or keeping pace with grade-level content while working on foundational gaps. Personalized tutoring addresses these specific challenges through targeted practice, explicit strategy instruction, and consistent reinforcement tailored to how your student learns best.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who understand IEP goals and can reinforce the same strategies and accommodations your student receives at school. Before starting, we gather information about your student's current plan, learning profile, and specific areas of focus—whether that's reading intervention, math skills, or executive function support. This ensures tutoring complements classroom instruction rather than duplicating it, and helps your student build consistency across learning environments.

The first session is an assessment and relationship-building opportunity. The tutor will learn about your student's strengths, learning style, current challenges, and any specific goals you want to focus on. They'll observe how your student approaches tasks, what strategies work well, and where support is needed most. This foundation allows the tutor to design a personalized approach for future sessions that builds on what's working and addresses priority areas.

Progress in special education tutoring is tracked through concrete, observable improvements aligned with IEP goals or specific skill targets. This might include increased reading fluency (words read correctly per minute), improved math computation accuracy, better organization of written work, or more consistent use of learned strategies. Tutors typically share progress updates and can help you monitor growth through work samples, skill checklists, and regular communication about what's improving and where continued focus is needed.

Yes. Raleigh's 17 school districts follow North Carolina state standards and curriculum frameworks, and tutors who work with students in Raleigh are familiar with these expectations and how they translate to individualized instruction. Whether your student attends a Wake County school, charter school, or private institution, tutors can align support with your school's specific approach to reading, math, and other core subjects while meeting your student's unique learning needs.

When you connect with Varsity Tutors, we match you with tutors who have relevant experience supporting students with learning differences, IEPs, or specific skill gaps. You can share details about your student's needs—whether that's dyslexia support, ADHD strategies, autism spectrum support, or other areas—and we'll connect you with someone qualified to help. It's important to find a tutor who understands both the academic content and the specific learning profile of your student.

The best time to start is when you notice your student is struggling to keep pace, when new IEP goals are set, or when you want to reinforce skills being taught at school. Many families start tutoring at the beginning of a school year, after an IEP meeting, or when a specific academic challenge emerges. Early intervention and consistent support tend to build confidence and prevent frustration, so reaching out sooner rather than later often leads to better outcomes for students in special education.