Louisville Tutoring: Sylvan Learning Center:

Sylvan Learning Center is now approved for the "No Child Left Behind" tutoring program. In addition to being able to offer tutoring services to families who can afford to pay for it, Sylvan is also now able to offer services to families who are economically disadvantaged and have students who are not making satisfactory progress in school. Sylvan is one of the leading centers in Louisville, Kentucky to offer tutoring and learning assistance.

Sylvan Learning Center in New Albany was opened in 1999 by Pam and Lucian Raque, who also own three other locations in Louisville, Kentucky. They began the business because they wanted to be able to make a difference in student's lives by working one on one with them. Their centers offer supplemental programs for ages 4 to adult in math, algebra, geometry, reading, writing, study skills, and homework. They also offer SAT preparation.

Sylvan Learning Center has 15 to 30 instructors at any given time and 90% of them are certified teachers. The center is open for teachers to assist students Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The New Albany location is at 3211 Grant Line Rd. in suite 13.

They give new students a skills assessment test, using the California Achievement test, to pinpoint skill gaps and entry points. They then individualize a program based on each student's needs. The student-to-teacher ratio at Sylvan Learning Center is three to one, to ensure personalized attention, and they guarantee results by administering the CAT again after 36 hours of instruction. If a student has not made one grade level worth of improvement, they receive 12 additional hours of instruction free.

"It's not a band aid," said Kym DeStephanis, executive director of the four centers in Kentuckiana. "We don't just focus on where they should be. We're able to take student's back to the grade level they began to have problems in and fill in the gaps, getting them to where they need to be."

Destephanis said that a typical program for a student is 100 hours instruction, although a full grade level of improvement is expected after 36. She also said that the biggest relief for families is a better attitude from students about their school and homework. Sylvan works to instill confidence in the students and their abilities. Depending on the program, rates are between $42 and $46 per hour.

"A lot of our parents bring their students in because they are battling with their students every night over homework," said Destephanis. "[Sylvan] lets them get back to the business of being parents and not teachers."

For more information about Sylvan Learning Center, please visit Sylvan's corporate web site at www.educate.com or call 812-944-6146 and ask for Center Director Meredith Holt or Director of Education Susie LaMastus.