Reading Tutors in Philadelphia, PA

Reading tutoring in Philadelphia, in short

TaleemSquare offers live, one-to-one online reading tutoring for Philadelphia students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Tutors follow the Pennsylvania Core Standards for English Language Arts and help children prepare for PSSA ELA tests.

Lessons are live, 45 minutes long and scheduled in Eastern Time, so they fit around school and activities. You start with a free assessment, then plans begin at $85 a month.

Curriculum: Pennsylvania standards
Lesson times: Eastern Time
Format: Live, one-to-one, online
Price: From $85 a month

Reading and English in Philadelphia schools

Standards: Pennsylvania Core Standards for English Language Arts
Tests your child may take: PSSA ELA tests in Grades 3-8 and the Keystone Literature exam
Worth knowing in Pennsylvania: A 2024 Pennsylvania law requires evidence-based reading instruction and universal reading screening in the early grades.

The School District of Philadelphia runs criteria-based schools such as Central High School and Julia R. Masterman.

School systems serving Philadelphia

The School District of Philadelphia

School year: Late August or early September to mid-June

Lessons scheduled in Eastern Time

Help for every grade

Elementary

Middle school

High school

Skills and programs

Phonics Reading comprehension Vocabulary Spelling Grammar Essay writing Dyslexia support ELA

Try the free reading test

Online one-to-one vs local options in Philadelphia

TaleemSquare onlineLocal learning centerPrivate in-home tutor

AttentionTaleemSquare: One tutor, one child, the whole lessonLearning center: Often shared between several studentsIn-home tutor: One-to-one

TravelTaleemSquare: None, lessons are at homeLearning center: Drive there and backIn-home tutor: Tutor travels to you

PriceTaleemSquare: From $85 a month (about $10.63 a lesson)Learning center: Varies; often a monthly membership plus feesIn-home tutor: Varies; often charged by the hour

Parent updatesTaleemSquare: WhatsApp summary after every classLearning center: Varies by centerIn-home tutor: Varies by tutor

ScheduleTaleemSquare: After school and weekends in Eastern TimeLearning center: Center opening hoursIn-home tutor: Depends on the tutor

A local center can suit children who like working alongside others. If your child needs focused one-to-one teaching, the free assessment lets you try it first.

Mother and daughter using a laptop together — Lessons run live on Zoom from home, with a parent welcome to sit in.

Father reading a book with his son on the couch — Reading together, then talking about what happened and why.

After each class you get a WhatsApp note: what was read, what clicked, and one thing to practise at home.

Simple monthly plans

$85a month for 2 one-to-one reading and English lessons a week

Free 45-minute assessment first
No contract, cancel any month
No registration fee
4-class money-back promise
Switch tutor at no cost
WhatsApp update after every class

Starter

2 lessons a week, best for keeping up with school

$85/mo

GrowthMost chosen

3 lessons a week, best for catching up + building confidence

$119/mo

Intensive

4 lessons a week, best for exam prep & fast improvement

$149/mo

Full pricing and how we compare

Reading tutoring in Philadelphia: questions

Are your reading tutors based in Philadelphia?

No. TaleemSquare tutors teach online, so Philadelphia families get one-to-one reading lessons without travelling to a center. Lessons are scheduled in Eastern Time and follow the Pennsylvania curriculum your child uses at school.

Do you follow the Pennsylvania English curriculum?

Yes. Tutors align lessons with the Pennsylvania Core Standards for English Language Arts and with your child's own school work. Share homework, worksheets or the topic list and the tutor will match it.

Can you help my child prepare for PSSA ELA tests?

Yes. Local tests include: PSSA ELA tests in Grades 3-8 and the Keystone Literature exam. Tutors build the underlying reading skills first, then practise questions in the right format as the test approaches.

How much does a reading tutor in Philadelphia cost?

TaleemSquare plans start at $85 a month for two 45-minute one-to-one lessons a week, about $10.63 a lesson. Three lessons a week cost $119 and four cost $149. There is no contract, and the first assessment is free.

What times are lessons available in Philadelphia?

Lessons are scheduled in Eastern Time, usually after school on weekdays or at weekends. Your child keeps the same tutor and weekly slots, which you agree after the free assessment.

Do you work with Philadelphia schools?

No. TaleemSquare is an independent online tutoring service: we aren't affiliated with any school or district in Philadelphia, and we don't have a local office. Children from any public, private or charter school can join. Lessons follow the Pennsylvania Core Standards for English Language Arts, and the tutor also works from the homework your child's teacher sets. Schools in Pennsylvania usually run late August or early September to mid-June, and you can start lessons at any point in the year.