File:  GCRD

TUTORING FOR PAY

Definition:  "Tutoring" means giving private instruction or help to an individual or group for which the teacher receives remuneration other than through the School Committee.

A teacher cannot recommend that one of his or her own students get tutoring, and then be paid to tutor that same student in a second job. 

A teacher may not tutor students who are currently in his/her class.  Even if the teacher does not recommend that the current student receive private tutoring, the teacher should not tutor current students.

Teachers and other public employees may not approach a student, or the student's parents, seeking private tutoring work.  A teacher may provide tutoring when the relationship is initiated by the parents or a student, but, if the student is, or in the future may be, under the teacher's authority, the teacher will need to provide a written disclosure.

A teacher cannot use school resources such as classrooms or materials in connection with a private tutoring business.  A public school employee cannot use a school or district website to advertise private tutoring services.  Schools cannot send home brochures for a particular tutoring service with the children. 

Tutoring is not to be recommended for a student unless the appropriate teacher of the student involved is consulted and agrees that it will be of real help.  If tutoring seems advisable, the Principal may give the parents a list of persons who are willing to tutor.  This list may include teachers, but not the student's teacher of the subject in which he or she is to be tutored.

LEGAL REF:  M. G. L. 268A   Mass. Ethics Commission FAQs for Public School Teachers

SOURCE:  MASC 2013

Adopted: 10/13/16

NOTE: A teacher cannot tutor in their own district if the district is going to pay for the tutoring unless the district has included a provision in the teachers' collective bargaining agreement providing a set amount of extra pay for tutoring by teachers that will be included in the teachers' regular paychecks.