Yes. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors experienced in supporting students with IEPs across Cincinnati's 44 school districts. Tutors can reinforce skills targeted in your student's IEP, provide additional practice in areas of struggle, and use strategies recommended by your school team. We recommend sharing your student's IEP goals during the initial conversation so the tutor can align instruction and track progress toward those specific objectives.

Students with learning disabilities often struggle with foundational skills like decoding, fluency, math fact automaticity, or executive function tasks like organization and time management. Personalized tutoring addresses these gaps through targeted, repetitive practice and explicit instruction in areas where classroom instruction alone may not be sufficient. With Cincinnati's average student-teacher ratio of 18.4:1, many students benefit from the individualized attention that 1-on-1 tutoring provides to build confidence and competence.

When you connect with Varsity Tutors, share details about your student's diagnosis, IEP accommodations, and learning profile. Varsity Tutors matches you with tutors who have experience supporting students with similar needs—whether that's dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, dyscalculia, or other learning differences. You can discuss the tutor's background and approach during your initial conversation to ensure it's a good fit.

The first session is typically a get-to-know-you meeting where the tutor learns about your student's strengths, challenges, learning style, and goals. The tutor may ask about your student's IEP, previous interventions that have worked, and specific areas where support is needed most. This foundation allows the tutor to design a personalized approach starting in session two, so come prepared to share relevant background information and any materials from your student's school.

Progress in special education tutoring should be measurable and aligned with your student's IEP goals. Look for improvements in specific skills (like reading fluency, math accuracy, or task completion), increased confidence and engagement, and feedback from the tutor about what strategies are working. Many families also see progress reflected in school performance, test scores, or teacher observations—share these metrics with your tutor so they can adjust instruction as needed.

Absolutely. Accommodations like extended time, breaks, alternative formats, or assistive technology should be used during tutoring just as they are at school. In fact, tutoring is an excellent opportunity to practice using accommodations in a low-pressure setting and to build independence with them. Let your tutor know which accommodations your student uses so they can incorporate them into every session.

Frequency depends on your student's needs and goals—some students benefit from weekly sessions, while others need more intensive support. Most families see meaningful progress within 4-6 weeks of consistent tutoring, though foundational skill development (like phonics or basic math facts) may take longer. Your tutor can recommend a schedule based on your student's specific challenges and discuss expected timelines during your initial consultation.