Frequently asked questions
If your question isn't here, ask in the chatbot or email us. We answer everything.
About the role itself
Is this a W-2 employee role or a 1099 contractor role?
W-2. Every tutor on our team is a W-2 employee. We handle federal tax withholding, FICA, workers' comp, and we send you a W-2 in January. We don't do 1099 contractor arrangements.
Do I have to write IEPs or attend IEP meetings?
No. Pure direct instruction. Our team handles everything administrative.
How many hours per week will I work?
Typically 5 to 10. Some tutors work as few as 3 hours, some as many as 15. We try to match you with the hours you've told us you want.
How is my schedule decided?
You tell us your availability windows during onboarding. We match you with students whose families' needs align with your schedule. If your availability changes, you tell us and we adjust.
What if I need to take a week off?
Tell us as far in advance as you can — usually a week is plenty. We'll let your students know and pick back up when you're back. There's no penalty for occasional time off.
What if a student isn't a good fit for me?
It happens. Talk to your team lead, we'll rematch. We've been doing this 12 years and we've gotten reasonably good at first-time matches, but no system is perfect.
How quickly can I start?
Typically about two weeks from application. The bottleneck is usually license verification and background check, both of which take a few days.
About pay and taxes
How much will I earn?
$23–$25 per hour, depending on experience and credentials. At ten hours a week, that's roughly $1,000 a month before taxes.
How often am I paid?
Weekly. Every Friday. Direct deposit.
How are taxes handled?
We withhold federal income tax and your portion of FICA (Social Security and Medicare). State tax handling varies — Tennessee and Florida don't have state income tax, so there's no state withholding for tutors in those states. You'll receive a W-2 in January for the previous year's earnings.
Do I need to track quarterly estimated taxes?
No. That's the 1099 contractor world. As a W-2 employee, your withholding is taken care of.
Will tutoring with you affect my pension?
It depends on your state and your pension plan. For Tennessee teachers in TCRS and Florida teachers in FRS, working for a non-school-district employer like us is generally treated differently than returning to a public school district. We strongly recommend confirming the specifics with your state retirement system or a financial advisor before assuming. If we have a tutor on staff who's already navigated your specific situation, we're happy to connect you.
Will tutoring affect my Social Security?
If you're collecting Social Security and you're under full retirement age, there are earning limits that can reduce your benefit temporarily — but those limits are around $22,000+ per year, well above what part-time tutoring with us produces. If you're at or above full retirement age, there's no earning limit. Always confirm with the SSA or a financial advisor for your specific situation.
About the work itself
What ages and grade levels will I work with?
We serve students from elementary through high school, occasionally older. We match you based on the grade levels you tell us you're comfortable with.
What disability categories will I work with?
Specific learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, emotional/behavioral challenges, intellectual disabilities, and mixed profiles. You'll tell us your areas of strength on your application; we match you accordingly.
Will I have multiple students or just one?
Most tutors have 2 to 5 students they see regularly. Each student usually meets 1 to 2 times per week. The schedule varies based on family needs.
What does a typical session look like?
45 minutes long. Video-based on our platform. You'll have a session brief from our team that recaps what the student has been working on and suggests today's focus. You teach. You log a few notes at the end. You log out.
What if a student is having a really bad day?
It happens. You're a special education teacher; you know how to handle it. Sometimes the best move is to switch to something easier or just talk for a few minutes. Your judgment matters here. If anything ever feels concerning — a student in distress, a family situation that worries you — you tell us and we handle it.
About licensing and qualifications
Do I need a current state special education teaching license?
You need a special education teaching license that is currently active OR was active within the past 5 years. Issued by any U.S. state.
Do I need a license from the student's state?
No. We are a private tutoring company, not a school district, and we are not the instructor of record for any student's IEP. Your license verifies your training and credentials; it does not need to match the state where the student lives.
What if my license has been expired for more than 5 years?
Talk to us. There may still be a path depending on your situation, especially if you've stayed engaged with sped through other work. Don't disqualify yourself before we have a conversation.
What experience do I need?
We typically look for at least 3 years of special education classroom or specialized service experience. More is welcome. Less, in special circumstances, can sometimes work.
About equipment and setup
What equipment do I need?
A laptop or desktop with a working webcam and microphone, internet at least 25 Mbps download, and a quiet room to work from. We strongly recommend a USB headset (~$30–$50) for audio quality.
Do you provide a computer?
No. You use your own.
What software do I need to install?
Just our tutoring platform, which runs in your browser. No special software.
About the company
Who runs SpecialEdResource?
Luke Dalien and Suzie Dalien founded the company in 2014 after their own son's experience with autism and Duchenne muscular dystrophy showed them how badly families needed specialized support. They still run it. The team has grown but the founders are still hands-on.
Where are you based?
Phoenix, Arizona. Our tutors and students are everywhere — but the business is Arizona-based.
Are you legitimate?
Yes. 12 years in business. Active provider in Arizona's ESA program (which involves real state-level audits and oversight). Hundreds of families served. We're not a marketplace, not a startup, not a venture-backed disruption play. We're a small, profitable, owner-run company that has been doing this since 2014.