STEPPING STONE SCHOLARS TUTORING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The following document is a legal contract between an individual user and Stepping Stone Scholars Tutoring regarding the use of the tutoring services. This contract was designed to maximize the effectiveness of Stepping Stone Scholars Tutoring by highlighting the goals and expectations of the tutor and outline the guidelines to keep services as efficient and inexpensive as possible.  Please take the time to read through the following points before signing.

Fees

• Initial Consultation................................................ Free

• One-on-One Tutoring Session .............................. $35/hour

• After School Support……………………………$15/day

• Building Effective Study Habits Course ......................................$280/Participant

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Tutor Satisfaction. Our staff is comprised of the most brilliant, professional, and charismatic educational consultants around.  However, if after two sessions of a minimum 1-hour each and two unique tutors, you or your student is not satisfied—for any reason—you will not be expected to pay a penny.

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No Guarantees. While we are confident in our tutors, instructors, and curricula, we cannot guarantee that students will improve their grades or scores.  It is impossible for us to make such guarantees as there are many components to success that are beyond our control such as innate ability, motivation, and natural disasters.

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Session Minimums.  The minimum charge per each unique one-to-one session is 1 hour.

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Tuition/Prepayment: Clients may prepay for one-on-one services as a package and are required to prepay for courses. Tuition payment is due in full at the beginning of every month. We will refund prepayments by request with the following stipulations:

Any previous discounts or bonuses provided in exchange for the prepayment will be subtracted from the refund amount.

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Monthly Invoices. Post-paid clients will receive invoices by e-mail for the previous month on or around the 5th of the current month. Clients may settle their invoices in one of five ways:

Debit/Credit card self-entered online

Debit/Credit card via PayPal;

Cash App;

Cash

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Scheduling a Tutor on Call (TOC). A regularly invoiced session must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance. A “Tutor on Call” session may be requested less than 48 hours in advance.  If available, the Client will be billed at their normal rate plus a last minute surcharge (see rates).

Service Fees: All other services will be billed at the rates designated above. Unless otherwise indicated, payment is due at the time of service.

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Cancellations: In the event your tutor must cancel a session, you will be notified in advance. You will not be charged for that session and you may choose to receive a credit or refund. An appointment may only be canceled if confirmed directly with the educational consultant or Client Manager.  The client may cancel any appointment 24 hours in advance of the previously scheduled time without penalty; otherwise, appointments will be treated as “Missed Appointment”.

Missed Appointments: Because a specific session is reserved for you, missed sessions may not be rescheduled and no refund will be issued. (Extenuating circumstances will be considered)

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Payment Methods: S.S.S Tutoring accepts cash, Cash App, credit/debit cards via Paypal.

Service Area. Stepping Stone Scholars does not generally charge an additional fee for the tutor’s travel time and expenses incurred if the session location falls within the listed cities.  If the location falls outside of this area then a nominal surcharge may be applied.  This surcharge will be jointly determined between the Client and the tutor/s.

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Penalties for Late Payment. A surcharge may apply for all invoices paid later than fifteen days after the invoice date. Collection costs will be added to the total for invoices not paid within 60 days.

This late surcharge is not to exceed $1 a day or the amount limited by applicable law.

Clients will pay all reasonable costs and expenses of collection, including debt collector and attorney’s fees.

Billing: Billing for hourly services begins at the scheduled time (provided that the educational consultant is present). Clients are charged by the hour in five-minute increments.  The rate of $35/hour is the standard rate for services. Invoices are sent on or around the 5th of the current month for the previous month or at the termination of the agreement. Also upon termination of a package (as defined by any package where the hourly rate is under $35 hour), all outstanding or continuing hours will be billed at the full rate of $35/hr. After the first of each term or school year, the agreement may be renegotiated.

In some instances, clients are put on a retainer agreement that is an “all-inclusive program” which is created on a case by case basis. These packages will be discussed in scope at the time of consultation. Payment for the first month of service is required in advance to retain services.

Hours used are deducted from the retainer balance. If planned hours are exceeded, additional hours will be invoiced on the next month. Excess hours are billed at a rate of $35/hour or a predetermined agreed upon rate.

Memorandum of Agreement. Rates, scope of work, and roles of the involved parties are included in the Memorandum of Agreement. The MOA is the basis of the program created by S.S.S Tutoring. For maximum effect, it is important that the entire family is active and fully understands their role. A sample MOA is attached to this form.

Confidentiality: Your privacy is of utmost concern to us. The information gathered during the evaluation, testing and tutoring process is kept confidential, except where required by law. You have the right to expect confidentiality regarding information obtained through consultation, evaluation and/or tutoring. We may only communicate with a third party (e.g., professionals at your work, school, teachers, therapists, physicians, etc.) with your permission. To do so, you must complete an Authorization to Release Information form. Only then are we authorized to communicate with that person or organization regarding yourself and the information in your record

Welcome to the website of Stepping Stone Scholars Tutoring. By accessing our site, you agree to these Policies and Procedures of Use and are bound by all applicable laws and regulations.

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