JCPS Offering Free, Online Tutoring for Students

3rd-12th graders can receive live help in core subjects

Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) students who are struggling with class work while they complete lessons at home can now get free tutoring help from a nationally-known tutoring company. Massachusetts-based FEV Tutor, which provides online tutoring for several U.S. school districts, is open for lessons to JCPS students at no cost to the student or family.

girl looking at laptop with teacher instructing on screen
“We know that NTI has been challenging at times for our students and families, and a teacher isn’t always available for questions when a student needs help,” said Staci Eddleman, director of federal and state programs for JCPS.  “We wanted to find a way to get students that tutoring help when they need it, and we are thrilled that students are using this service.” 

The online tutoring sessions are available to third- through 12th-graders and focus on the core subjects of math, English, science and social studies. Tutors are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, and students can schedule lessons or opt for 24/7 tutoring with on-demand sessions. The service can also be accessed on weekends.

The lessons allow students to communicate with a live person via chat function. Both the tutor and student can use a whiteboard feature, and students are able to share their screen or upload videos or documents to help the tutor better understand the problem and help required. All of the lessons are recorded so the JCPS student can review or refer to them in the future.

“The tutoring was very helpful to me,” said Samaha Omar, a sixth-grader at Olmsted Academy South.  Samaha said she took advantage of the tutoring several times for assistance with reading and math lessons, and the extra coaching not only helped improve her grasp of the subjects, but boosted her confidence.

“I never had an A-plus on everything,” she said.  “My tutor would go over my assignment with me and then give me a test to make sure I understood.”

FEV’s lessons can be translated into multiple languages giving JCPS’ English Language Learners a tool for helping with their school work.

The JCPS contract with FEV Tutor will provide 5,750 hours of tutoring for students at a cost of $125,000 to the district. Eddleman says JCPS is receiving weekly and monthly reports on the service’s usage by students and will assess whether the contract should be extended to provide more hours.

Click here for a video on how to book a tutoring session, or here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).   Families can also contact FEV Tutor directly at ky@fevtutor.com or 855-763-2607.