Raising the Bar Means Raising the Grades: Stricter Scholarship Standards and the Need to Compete Make Tutoring Programs Invaluable to Georgia Youth

LILBURN, Ga., Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent changes to the HOPE scholarship make it crucial that Georgia's children focus not only on graduating from high school, but on graduating with strong grades and the academic skills and confidence necessary for college success. This can be frightening news for teachers in today's crowded classrooms, many of whom simply can't stretch their time and attention enough to provide the necessary assistance to every struggling child. Tutoring services, say new Club Z! franchise owners Drs. Karen and Rodrick Stevenson, are the answer.

"There is a new need to focus on grades," says Karen, "not only to go from poor grades to better, but also to improve upon good grades. In Georgia, one could previously get the HOPE scholarship simply by being enrolled and successfully completing your high school education. That has since changed."

Where America's underfunded, overburdened, and ill-equipped schools are already doing as much as they can to help students succeed - and falling miserably short - tutoring services such as Club Z! can be the key, Karen says, raising children's grades, renewing their hopes, and providing support to students, parents, and the educational system itself in the process. Unlike other programs, Club Z!'s effectiveness is further boosted by its focus on one-on-one tutoring that takes place in the child's own home.

As North America's largest one-on-one in-home tutoring program, with an excellent 15-year reputation and hundreds of thousands of happy clients nationwide, the Club Z! franchise is well-respected and well-loved for its supportive tutoring style and high success rates. The security and familiarity of the home environment allow many children to concentrate more easily and help to eliminate distractions - ultimately building the child's study skills and boosting their academic confidence. Meanwhile, parents appreciate the convenience of flexibly scheduled in-home appointments and the regular progress reports provided after each session. 

Regarding their own decision to open a Club Z! franchise, Karen and Rod cite a passion for education. "We realized that Club Z! was a way to work at something we enjoy, assisting young people to become better prepared for their futures," says Rod. "I was previously on the teaching faculty in the surgery departments of two medical schools, and Karen, an honors graduate from college and medical school, has experience tutoring students in both situations." 

Karen, a practicing board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, has a unique perspective on education and academic confidence. "I see how the pressures of academics affect children," she states. "Not feeling as though you can grasp the information and not feeling 'as smart' as some of the other kids can cause anxiety, affecting even the areas that normally one would do well in." 

Both Atlanta residents for the past couple of years, Rod is a practicing board certified surgeon, and Karen, in addition to her medical practice, is also currently working on a Master's of Divinity. "This was the right business model for us, given our medical practices," Rod states. As new Area Directors of the Lilburn Club Z! branch, the Stevensons will work with a team of tutors who are experts in their subject areas, providing tutoring to students of all ages and ability levels. 

In addition to subject-area tutoring, Club Z!'s popular Learning Built to Last program focuses on building students' study skills. Standardized test preparation programs, geared toward raising scores on college entrance exams such as the SAT and ACT, are also a common choice and a specialty of the new branch.  

In honor of the Lilburn area Club Z! grand opening, registration fees have been waived for all new clients. For additional information about Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services, please visit http://www.clubztutoring.com/1921 or call 770-270-2220.

SOURCE Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services