LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As online learning continues for students across the Commonwealth, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is offering students a new resource.

JCPS students struggling with their classwork can now receive free tutoring help from FEV Tutor, a Massachusetts-based and nationally-known tutoring company. The lessons are at no cost to the student or family.

“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, who serves as the 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.” 

Students in grades third through 12th can access online tutoring sessions, which focus on core subjects like math, English, science, and social studies. On weekdays, tutors are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Students can also schedule lessons or opt for 24/7 tutoring with on-demand sessions. As well, the service is available on weekends.

Here's how the tutoring service works: Students can communicate with a live person via a chat function, while both the tutor and student can use a whiteboard feature. Students can also share their screen or upload videos or documents to help the tutor understand the problem and what help they need. 

All lessons, which can be translated into multiple languages, are recorded so students can review or refer to them in the future.

Samaha Omar, a sixth-grader at Olmsted Academy South, took advantage of the free tutoring for help with reading and math lessons.

“The tutoring was very helpful to me,” Samaha said.

Samaha said the tutoring improved her grasp of the subjects while boosting 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.”

The district's contract with FEV tutor will provide 5,750 hours of tutoring for students for $125,000 from the district. Eddleman said JCPS is receiving weekly and monthly reports on the service's usage by students and will determine whether or not the contract should be extended to provide more hours.

A guide on booking a session is available online, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can also be found online. FEV Tutor can be contacted directly at ky@fevtutor.com or 855-763-2607.

Haeli Spears is a digital producer with Spectrum News 1 Kentucky. She is a University of Louisville graduate who started her career with Spectrum News in May, 2020.