There is no law in the United States prohibiting private tutoring, but there are regulations in place to control issues related to teacher benefits and academic equity. These policies are mainly issued by each state or school district.
In the US, the decision to take extra classes is often based on the ability and conditions of each student, not on following trends. (Source: International Science Teaching Foundation) |
Public schools open free classes
One of the most important principles of the public education system in the United States is to avoid conflicts of interest. Many school districts prohibit teachers from tutoring their own students because the teacher may appear biased in grading or the student may feel coerced or pressured to participate in order to get a better grade. Some school districts even prohibit teachers from tutoring students in the school.
For example, in New York state, the Great Neck Public School system does not allow teachers to tutor students in the same school.
In the Los Angeles Unified School District (California), teachers are not allowed to charge students for tutoring in their schools. Teachers are encouraged to refer parents and students to the district's free tutoring services.
Also in California, some districts allow teachers to tutor students from other districts or private schools, as long as it does not interfere with their main job.
In addition, many American public schools offer free after-school tutoring programs taught by teachers or volunteers to help students, especially those who are behind in their studies.
In fact, schools in the US often focus a lot on developing skills outside of regular school hours such as participating in clubs, sports and volunteer activities, helping students practice soft skills in addition to studying in the classroom.
Private tutors and the exam preparation market: A "lucrative" industry
Despite regulations governing public school teachers, the private tutoring market in the US is thriving, especially in the test prep field.
According to a report by market research firm Technavio released in December 2024, the private tutoring market in the US is forecast to grow to $28.85 billion (about VND 735.1 trillion), with a growth rate of 11.1% per year from 2024 to 2029. The three main factors driving this growth are: Increased focus on STEM education; The trend of microlearning (learning in short, focused sessions); The popularity of open-source educational materials that help reduce learning costs.
Well-known centers like Kumon (which teaches math and reading to students from elementary to high school) or Sylvan Learning (which offers courses to enhance basic study skills) and other organizations like Kaplan and Princeton Review (which specialize in test preparation for standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, GRE) have become popular choices for students looking to improve their academic performance or prepare for important exams.
These centers operate as private educational businesses and are subject to state-specific educational business regulations as well as consumer protection regulations to ensure quality of service. Free from the regulations that apply to public school teachers, private tutors can earn high salaries, especially in large cities like New York or San Francisco.
The development of technology has also opened up many options for online tutoring in the US. Platforms such as Khan Academy, Coursera, and Udemy offer free and low-cost courses, helping students proactively access knowledge without the need for a private tutor.
In addition, in the US there are many online tutoring services such as Tutor.com, Chegg Tutors, providing flexibility and convenience for students in finding study help.
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