Dyslexia Tutoring Program (DTP) provides FREE Orton-Gillingham training courses for volunteers who tutor students in our program. In return, tutors agree to:

• • • Complete all 30 hours of the Orton-Gillingham Level I training course.
  • • Tutor a student in DTP’s program once a week for a minimum of 60 hours total.
  • • Submit Monthly Student Reports in a timely manner at the close of each month.

You must complete the 60-hour tutoring commitment, or DTP will bill you $500 for the Orton-Gillingham 30 hour course. The $500 cost for the course will be pro-rated based on the number of hours you actually tutored.

• • • The Monthly Student Report is due at the end of each month. This is how we track the number of hours you accumulate toward your 60 hour commitment. This report is also how we track student hours and schedule rescreenings, essential for documenting our students’ progress. Monthly attendance data are also required to comply with state mandates and other funding requirements and ensure we remain accountable to our mission. You will receive a reminder to submit each month.
  • • Tutoring shall take place in public settings only, and shall not take place in your home, your student’s home, or any other private setting.
  • • All students are re-screened after every 30 hours of tutoring. Your Monthly Student Reports are required for us to schedule these progress assessments.
  • • Please note! DTP’s screening information may not be used for a formal diagnosis in a school or other setting and will not be released for those purposes.
  • • Contact our office if you have questions or concerns regarding your student. Also contact us if you have general questions about tutoring.

All students and tutors are required to attend a Spark Meeting. This meeting is scheduled by DTP and is overseen by one of DTP’s instructors or psychologists. This meeting takes place in person at DTP’s offices at The Rotunda and is required to begin tutoring.

At the Spark Meeting, the instructor/psychologist conducts a brief assessment with the student to help the tutor develop a lesson plan for tutoring. This ensures tutoring is tailored to each individual student.

After eight (8) hours of tutoring, DTP will schedule an appointment for an instructor or psychologist to observe one of your tutoring sessions. Observation of your tutoring session is required and must take place at DTP’s offices at The Rotunda.

At this observation, the tutor shall provide the instructor/psychologist with a lesson plan. The tutor will receive feedback from the instructor/psychologist and adjust tutoring as needed and directed.

NOTE: Observations after 8 hours are required every time you are matched with a new student.

Consistent tutoring is critical for students’ progress. The following is our policy regarding cancellations:

• • • Both tutor and student are to contact each other at least three (3) hours prior to a scheduled session if either has to cancel, and the cancellation will be considered an excused absence.
  • • If for any reason a tutor or student does not notify the other of a cancellation within the timeframe indicated above, then such an absence will be considered an unexcused absence.
  • • After three unexcused absences of a student, he or she will be dismissed from the program and will not be eligible to reapply for services until the expiration of a six-month period.
  • • After three unexcused absences of a tutor, he or she will be dismissed and will be billed $500 for the training course, pro-rated on the hours tutored.

If a tutor or student plans a summer vacation, you are expected to notify DTP’s office with the dates you will be away and the date when tutoring will resume. It is important for our students not to lose two or three months of tutoring.

I understand that all information regarding students is confidential. I acknowledge I have received a copy of DTP’s Privacy Statement and I agree to participate in the program under these guidelines.

I understand that to become a TUTOR, I must agree to and pass a background check and provide the names of at least two (up to three) references along with their contact information for verification.

DTP prohibits any harassment, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect of any participant involved in any of its programs or related events. Any person associated with DTP found to be in violation of this policy will be permanently dismissed. The violator will be permanently forbidden from participating as a tutor or student with DTP and will be barred from any future involvement with the Program. DTP shall report to the local police and the local Department of Social Services for adult or child abuse or any suspected abuse.

DTP is committed to maintaining a secure and safe workplace and tutoring program free from the influence of drugs and alcohol. I understand that I am expected to abide by this substance abuse policy.

The staff and Board of DTP aspire for everyone in our program to have a positive experience. If you have a problem with your student or their parent/guardian that you cannot solve on your own, please contact our office. If there is a problem with a staff member, please contact our Executive Director. DTP’s phone number is 410-889-5487.