Tutor Match®
Every child deserves the chance to reach their educational potential.
86% of children in foster care perform below their grade level in math.
Children in foster care often fall behind in school. Many change schools when placed into care, making it even harder to keep up academically. Their standardized test scores are 15 to 20 percentile points below their peers who didn’t enter foster care.
Tutor Match® provides free, quality tutoring for children and youth experiencing foster care in South Carolina.
Tutoring occurs weekly and is available for children in all grade levels.
of children in foster care
of children in foster care
of children in foster care
Do you know someone in SC who can benefit from Tutor Match®?
Give them a referral.
Anyone can complete a referral for Tutor Match® – youth, foster parents, group home staff, case workers, CASA/GALs, mentors, family members, and friends. Once a referral is received, our team will reach out to you, the youth, and the youth’s case worker.
Areas of Service
We currently offer free in-person and virtual tutoring across South Carolina.
Interested in Becoming a Volunteer Tutor?
Frequently Asked Questions
B. Guide students towards understanding specific topics, and towards overall academic success.
C. Prepare for each weekly tutoring session by locating materials (worksheets, online resources, games, etc.- we will provide a list of some to get you started! ) to aid in building comprehension of the subject area.
D. Encourage students to engage actively with their topics to build deeper understanding. Open ended/critical thinking questions encourage this.
E. Build student confidence in their ability to learn and understand challenging concepts, while being understanding of their circumstances related to foster care.
F. Use online tools such as an interactive whiteboard, voice and chat communication, and application sharing.
G. Set clear expectations of the student (respect, take notes to refer to later, bring relevant material, ask questions for clarification).
H. Change lives, one at a time!
A. Are confident in the subject of your choice and can explain the concepts within it (or confident in your ability to seek answers and resources!)
B. Can guide a child from step 1 to step 2 with patience and understanding.
C. Can help a child learn how to study and do well in school.
D. Possess strong oral and written communication skills and are fluent in English language. [We welcome Spanish speaking tutors to assist with this specific population of children in care.]
E. Can tutor one hour a week for 6 months on average. Sometimes students reach their goals faster, sometimes it takes longer! We evaluate progress after each quarter.
B. Tutors complete a monthly report of all volunteer activity. This is shared with all members of the child welfare team (such as social services, guardian ad litem, foster parent, group home caregiver, etc).
C. Ongoing training and virtual support group opportunities for all tutors. Sample topics addressed include: loss, trauma, shame, ACES, resilience, tutoring skills, and effective virtual learning strategies. We do our best to equip all tutors with the support they need.
B. System memory on your computer/smartphone device
C. Running processor (CPU)
D. Wi-Fi, satellite internet, or hotspot connection
E. Headset or speakers/microphone for use with our online software voice feature
F. Webcam or integrated camera for use with online software video feature
Math and English (reading comprehension, grammar, writing) are the most common subject areas addressed, but there is a need for all subjects - from science, and history to basic preschool learning, etc. Many students need overall academic support, as children in foster care often fall years behind their grade level.
Sessions must take place in a open, common area of the home, with at least one trusted caregiver/adult present.
If necessary due to distance or other personal limitations, tutoring can be done virtually via Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams.
We encourage tutors to use the student’s textbook, notes, Google search, educational videos on YouTube, and a wide variety of tools to make the learning experience for the student more memorable, comprehensive, applicable to real world scenarios.
After training, we guide you through required national background checks, screenings and reference checks.
The application process usually takes 1-2 months, depending on how quickly you complete each step.
● Confidential
● Critical thinker
● Active Listener
● Good Communicator
● Enthusiastic & Positive
● Empathetic & Patient
Upcoming Training Events:
Are you interested in becoming a Tutor Match® tutor for a child experiencing foster care in South Carolina?
Fill out the form below to talk with a member of our team about how you can get involved with this Great Idea. We need tutors for in-person and virtual sessions.