At SmartStart Education, we know how important it is to have qualified, dedicated tutors in your schools. That’s why we’ve developed a comprehensive vetting and training process to ensure that every tutor we place is not only qualified but also equipped to meet the unique needs of your students. With so many questions about how we choose and support our tutors, we wanted to give you an inside look at what happens behind the scenes.
The SmartStart Tutor Vetting Process
When a school lets us know they need tutors—whether it’s for math, reading, or any other subject—we get right to work. First, we post targeted ads to find candidates with the right qualifications. Every potential tutor goes through two rounds of interviews. The first interview is with a recruiter who has an educational background, ensuring we understand the candidate’s skills from an academic perspective. The second interview is more in-depth and is conducted by the program manager, who will oversee the tutor’s work.
While formal certification isn’t currently required, we’re working on changing that. Through our partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), we’ll soon require all tutors to complete a certification program within six weeks of being hired. This ensures that every tutor has a solid foundation in best practices and tutoring strategies. For now, all tutors are required to have a bachelor’s degree and at least one year of experience in a teaching or tutoring role.
We also conduct three reference checks and a thorough background check to meet state guidelines, ensuring the safety and reliability of each tutor before they enter your school.
What About Special Certifications?
If your school needs tutors with specific certifications—such as Special Education (SPED) or English as a Second Language (ESL)—the process is similar, but we go the extra mile to verify those certifications.
Ongoing Training and Support
Hiring is just the beginning. At SmartStart, we believe in continuous development for our tutors. Depending on the needs of the school, we may provide our own curriculum or work with the school’s curriculum. Either way, we make sure that our tutors are on track through regular check-ins with school leaders and our academic team.
We also hold weekly or bi-weekly meetings with tutors to address any instructional challenges or student concerns. And once a month, all tutors participate in professional development training through our partnership with ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, ensuring they stay up-to-date with the latest teaching strategies.
Who Supports the Tutors?
Every tutor reports to a program manager, and all of our program managers have academic experience. These program managers are the first point of contact for tutors when they need support, whether it’s related to student behavior or instructional issues. They also help track student attendance and progress through an easy-to-use system that lets school leaders see real-time updates.
Ensuring Compliance and Safety
Before tutors start working, they complete all state-mandated training, including sexual harassment and abuse awareness. For states without specific requirements, we ensure that every tutor goes through comprehensive sexual abuse awareness training. Additionally, all tutors are checked against the National Sexual Offender Registry to ensure the safety of your students.
Why This Matters
We understand that trusting us with your students’ education is a big deal, and we take that responsibility seriously. Our vetting process, ongoing training, and strong support systems are designed to provide you with the best tutors who are not only qualified but passionate about making a difference in the classroom.
At SmartStart, we don’t just send a tutor—we send a well-prepared, well-supported partner in learning.
