Total paid through end of 2011-12: $6,213,768.27
State headquarters: Michigan
Type of organization: For profit
Application score (minimum of 70 required by state): 93
Complaint: St. Paul officials said ATS repeatedly violated its contract by contacting families prior to official enrollment period, giving ATS an "unfair advantage" over competitors for years.
Response: ATS acknowledged it routinely contacted families over the summer to remind them about tutoring program, but said company was "quick to respond" when district raised objections in 2011.
Total paid through end of 2011-12: $3,742,197.49
State headquarters: Minnesota
Type of organization: For profit
Application score (minimum of 70 required by state): na
Complaint: In 2012, Anoka-Hennepin family terminated services over comunication problems with firm's India-based tutors. Mother said "it was difficult to understand the tutor that was assigned to them."
Response: All tutors receive training to "neutralize their accent." TutorCo said it offers to switch tutors after two sessions if communication problems continue.
Total paid through end of 2011-12: $3,687,526.86
State headquarters: Minnesota
Type of organization: For profit
Application score (minimum of 70 required by state): 83
Complaint: St. Paul student said tutor questioned her religious practices and "made her feel like she was stupid." When girl's mother complained, tutor told her to "go back to her own country."
Response: Firm verified incident and tutor was "relieved of duty immediately" for engaging in "unacceptable behavior."
Total paid through end of 2011-12: $3,586,758.89
State headquarters: Florida
Type of organization: For profit
Application score (minimum of 70 required by state): na
Complaint: Despite records showing her daughter completed Club Z's tutoring program in 2010, Minneapolis mother said the student "never received tutoring."
Response: Club Z declined to comment. School district said wrong student may have been tutored, but found no evidence suggesting Club Z billed for any tutoring sessions "that did not occur."
Total paid through end of 2011-12: $2,269,077.94
State headquarters: Minnesota
Type of organization: For profit
Application score (minimum of 70 required by state): 73
Complaint: In Osseo, family complained that tutor failed to show up for all scheduled tutoring sessions in 2011.
Response: Company investigation revealed the tutor had submitted false time sheets for two families, including this one. Tutor was fired and both families were offered make-up sessions with a new tutor.
Total paid through end of 2011-12: $1,561,854.06
State headquarters: Minnesota
Type of organization: For profit
Application score (minimum of 70 required by state): 83
Complaint: In 2011, St. Cloud officials expressed "extreme disappointment" that several students had been waiting 2.5 months to start tutoring.
Response: "We must have done a poor job of getting those kids started, which is absolutely unacceptable.” Sylvan said the "mistake" involved 4-5 students.
Total paid through end of 2011-12: $972,650.44
State headquarters: Minnesota
Type of organization: Faith-based organization
Application score (minimum of 70 required by state): na
Complaint: No complaints on file.
Total paid through end of 2011-12: $822,874.53
State headquarters: Maryland
Type of organization: For profit
Application score (minimum of 70 required by state): 77*
Complaint: St. Paul officials have repeatedly complained about long delays in the start of tutoring and threatened to transfer students to other providers.
Response: "We are very sorry that the St. Paul Public Schools (“SPPS”) is dissatisfied with the service it received from Educate Online." Company said it changed local managers and added staff members.
Total paid through end of 2011-12: $720,440.49
State headquarters: Florida
Type of organization: For profit
Application score (minimum of 70 required by state): 82
Complaint: In St. Cloud, officials said just two of the company's 29 students got the help they needed last year and blasted Abacus' customer service as "pathetic."
Response: Company said it had trouble finding many of the families who requested services. Also blamed some of its tutors for failing to meet their obligations.
Total paid through end of 2011-12: $706,942.76
State headquarters: Maryland
Type of organization: For profit
Application score (minimum of 70 required by state): 79
Complaint: After Learn It failed to promptly start services for most of its St. Paul students this year, district transferred more than 60 students to other providers.
Response: Company recently brought in a new manager to oversee this market, who apologized to district and said: "I take this seriously and I will get this cleaned up."
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