Legal
Private Tutoring Agreement
Version 1.1 · Last updated August 20, 2026
This agreement outlines the policies and expectations governing private tutoring services provided by Bell Curves Educational Services (“Bell Curves”). Our goal is to create a productive, flexible tutoring experience that supports student progress while respecting the time and commitments of students, families, and instructors.
1. Tutoring Package Structure
Private tutoring is provided in prepaid instructional packages.
A $75 registration fee is included in each tutoring package and is non-refundable.
Tutoring hours are valid for 12 months from the package purchase date. Unused hours expire at the end of that period and have no cash value, except as otherwise required by law.
- Hours are applied to tutoring sessions as they are delivered.
- Additional hours may be purchased once the current package is completed.
- Bell Curves does not automatically renew or bill for additional hours without the family's request.
Once tutoring hours have been used for instruction, they are considered completed services and are not refundable or transferable.
2. Scheduling & Session Structure
Tutoring sessions are scheduled collaboratively between the family, the tutor, and Bell Curves.
Whenever possible, session times and locations are arranged around the family's preferences, subject to tutor availability. Sessions may be held:
- in the family's home
- at another agreed-upon location
- virtually
Sessions begin and end at the scheduled time.
3. Scheduling Adjustments
Tutoring time is reserved specifically for the student and instructor. To keep scheduling fair and manageable for everyone the following scheduling policy applies to all sessions:
| Notice Given | Policy |
|---|---|
| 24 hours or more | Tutoring session may be rescheduled |
| 8–24 hours | Tutoring session considered completed unless the tutor and family agree to adjust the session time. |
| Less than 8 hours | Tutoring session counts as completed and cannot be rescheduled |
Missed sessions without notice are considered completed sessions. In some cases, tutors may be able to accommodate short-notice scheduling changes. Any such adjustments are at the tutor's discretion and subject to availability. Families are encouraged to communicate scheduling conflicts as early as possible so adjustments can be made when feasible.
These guidelines help ensure that instructional time is used effectively and that schedules remain workable for both families and instructors.
4. Tutor Assignment & Adjustments
Bell Curves assigns tutors based on subject expertise, student needs, and availability. If a tutoring match does not feel like the right fit, Bell Curves will work with the family to make adjustments.
Up to two tutor changes may be accommodated during a tutoring engagement if necessary. If a satisfactory tutoring match cannot be established after reasonable adjustments, Bell Curves will work with the family to determine the most appropriate next steps for the student.
5. Student Engagement
Tutoring is most effective when students actively participate in the learning process.
Students are expected to:
- arrive prepared for sessions
- participate during instruction
- complete assigned practice work between sessions
Consistent engagement between sessions allows tutoring to build momentum and produce stronger results.
6. Instructional Results
Bell Curves has more than two decades of experience supporting students preparing for academic exams and admissions tests. Tutoring focuses on building subject mastery, recognition of tested concepts, and effective test-taking strategies.
Student progress during tutoring sessions is the primary measure of instructional success. When students are improving during instruction and practice, the tutoring program is working as intended. Because test performance can be influenced by many factors — including student preparation, pacing, and test-day conditions — tutoring services are not refundable based on test outcomes alone.
If concerns arise during the tutoring process, Bell Curves will work with families to adjust instruction or tutor placement whenever appropriate. Families are encouraged to raise concerns during the tutoring process so adjustments can be made while instruction is ongoing.
7. Learning Environment
When tutoring takes place in a home or other agreed location, students should have a space that supports focused instruction with minimal distractions. If circumstances arise that make effective instruction difficult, the tutor and family may adjust the session as needed. This may include moving to a quieter location, rescheduling the session, or making other reasonable adjustments to support the student's learning experience.
8. Communication & Scheduling
Scheduling adjustments, program questions, and tutoring coordination should be communicated through Bell Curves administration. This helps ensure consistent scheduling, instructor coordination, and program continuity.
9. Tutor Employment
Bell Curves tutors are employees of Bell Curves Educational Services. Families agree not to privately hire or contract with Bell Curves instructors introduced through the tutoring program during the course of tutoring or within 12 months following the final tutoring session.
10. Materials & Session Recording
Instructional materials provided during tutoring sessions are the intellectual property of Bell Curves and are intended for the student's personal educational use.
Bell Curves Recording of Sessions. By signing this Agreement, the parent or guardian consents to Bell Curves recording tutoring sessions for instructional quality, safety, support, and program development purposes, consistent with the Bell Curves Privacy Policy. Families may ask that a particular session not be recorded by notifying Bell Curves administration in advance; Bell Curves will accommodate such requests where reasonably practicable.
Recording by Families or Students. Tutoring sessions should not be independently recorded, reproduced, or distributed by the family or student without the prior agreement of both the tutor and Bell Curves. This helps maintain a comfortable learning environment for students and instructors and protects the integrity of instructional materials. Instructional materials provided during tutoring sessions are the intellectual property of Bell Curves and are intended for the student's personal educational use. Tutoring sessions should not be recorded or distributed without the prior agreement of both the tutor and Bell Curves. This helps maintain a comfortable learning environment for students and instructors and protects the integrity of instructional materials.
11. Refund Policy
Families may request a refund for eligible unused tutoring hours remaining in a package before the package expires. Refund requests must be submitted in writing to Bell Curves administration.
Before calculating a refund, tutoring hours already used are repriced at Bell Curves' regular, undiscounted hourly rate. The $75 registration fee and any non-refundable materials or resources are also deducted. Any remaining eligible balance is refunded.
If concerns arise regarding tutor fit or student progress, Bell Curves encourages families to contact us during the tutoring process so that adjustments can be made when appropriate, including tutor reassignment if necessary. Tutoring services are not refundable based solely on test outcomes, admissions decisions, or other factors outside Bell Curves' control.
12. Agreement Acknowledgment
By signing below, the parent or guardian acknowledges understanding and acceptance of the tutoring policies described above.