Question 1

Cancellation & No Show Policy

Accepted Answer

Kate's Tutoring has a no-cancellation policy and a 2-business-day rescheduling policy.

Rescheduling
48+ hours notice required (2 business days, Mon-Fri; weekend sessions need notice by end-of-day Thursday). 
Reschedule requests without proper notice are charged at full rate. 
Rescheduled session must occur within the same billing cycle; i.e., if you reschedule in December, the lesson MUST be made up in December and does not roll forward Jan/Feb.
One reschedule per session maximum - rescheduled sessions cannot be rescheduled again

Cancellations
You will be charged the full session rate regardless of notice given.
You may request to reschedule (see above) or have an 'asynchronous' day for things like paper edits, essay reviews, or other tasks that respect the tutor's time. Asynchronous sessions are subject to tutor availability and agreement.

Late Arrivals
15+ minutes late: Counts as no-show, full charge, no makeup

Exceptions
Exceptions are granted at the tutor's discretion and may be made due to serious illness, death, or other emergency.

Tutor Cancellations
If the tutor cancels, sessions are rescheduled at the student's convenience.

I understand these policies can feel a bit 'tough-love,' but they reflect the value of the dedicated time we set aside for your family. Just as we commit to being 100% prepared and present for every session, we ask for that same commitment in return to keep our programs running smoothly for everyone.

Question 2

Direct Booking Policy

Accepted Answer

Kate is available for direct booking here.

Subjects & Eligibility
Kate works with students from 4th grade through high school. Her areas of expertise include:
English & History: Comprehensive support, including preparation for all AP-level courses.
Mathematics: Foundational math through Algebra 2.
Science: Early and middle-school science curriculum.

Policies & Expectations
To maintain a consistent schedule and provide high-quality support to all students, the following terms apply to all direct bookings:
Format: All direct booking sessions are conducted online only. Please ensure your student has a stable internet connection and a quiet workspace.
Non-Refundable: All bookings are final. We are unable to offer refunds once a session is confirmed.
No Rescheduling: Because Kate’s calendar is carefully managed, sessions cannot be rescheduled. Please double-check your availability before selecting a time slot.
Punctuality: Sessions will begin and end at the scheduled time. Time lost due to late arrival cannot be made up or extended.

Pro-Tip: Having your specific syllabus or current assignment ready to share at the start of the call or before helps Kate dive right into the "heavy lifting" immediately!

Question 3

Payment Policy & Late Fees

Accepted Answer

Payment for the month is due upfront at the end of the previous month. Sessions are not held until payment is received.

Recurring invoices are delivered on the 22nd and due on the 26th. A reminder is sent automatically on the 24th. Schedule adjustments for the following month are also due by the 24th. If you've opted for automatic credit card billing, no action is needed.

New invoices (to start sessions) are sent once your time is confirmed and are valid for 24 hours. Your slot and tutor are not confirmed until payment is received — expect no tutor contact until then. If payment is not received within 24 hours, your slot is released automatically with no extensions. A $25 fee applies to reclaim a released slot.

Late fees: A $25 fee is charged if payment is not received by the 26th, with an additional $25 for each subsequent month unpaid. If an invoice remains unpaid after the 28th, your family will be removed from the roster and your time slot may be offered to the waitlist; a $25 fee applies to return.

Payment methods: Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, check, cash, or credit card. Cash is fee-free. For Venmo/PayPal, a "Thanks" or emoji in the memo is fine. Bounced checks incur a $50 fee. Payments must be made by an adult (18+).

Invoice errors or payment difficulties? If dates on your invoice look wrong, or if you anticipate trouble paying on time, please reach out before the 26th — we're happy to work something out. Contact us at info@katestutoring.com.

Question 4

Availability Policy

Accepted Answer

My admin office hours are from 11:30am to 6:30pm Monday through Thursday. Please do not expect responses outside of those hours.

I am not available via phone from 2pm onward. I strongly encourage emails!

Question 5

Tutor Relationships / Non-Solicitation

Accepted Answer

To protect the integrity of our programs and the time of our tutors, enrolled students must remain within Kate’s Tutoring. Parents may not hire or solicit our tutors directly for private sessions outside the company. This protects our tutors, maintains continuity of instruction, and ensures clarity for all parties.

Question 6

Trial Session Policy

Accepted Answer

We're happy to have students try out our sessions before committing to the month. We do suggest booking two or three meetings before deciding, but we can work with one!

Trial sessions are paid for at the time of booking. Because these slots are in high demand, trial sessions may not be rescheduled for convenience. In the event of a documented medical emergency or illness, please contact us as soon as possible; exceptions are made solely at the tutor's discretion.

Question 7

Recommended Lesson Duration

Accepted Answer

For most of my students I recommend sessions of 1 hour in length. For my ACT and SAT test prep students, I require meetings in 2 hour blocks. Pricing is given per hour.
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For group classes, I recommend 90 minutes to 2 hours for most small groups. The more students in the class, the longer the meetings should be, generally.

Question 8

Rate Policy

Accepted Answer

All rates, including hourly and packages, reflect both hidden costs and experience. Kate is a licensed teacher registered with the state and with the National Tutor's Association and has been tutoring for  15 years. Lesson prep, continuing education, overhead, and off-the-clock meetings/emails with parents are all hidden within the tutoring price. Kate's prices are also significantly lower for private, one on one tutoring than major test prep companies. The experience of their tutors is rarely comparable.

To ensure fairness to all families and reflect the professionalism of our team, our rates are firm and non-negotiable.

That said, I am more than happy to chat about small group rates if your student has a friend or two!

Please note that rates quoted via email reflect pricing at time of quote and are subject to change.

Question 9

Refund Policy + Guarantee

Accepted Answer

We have a No Refund Policy for all services. Refund requests, regardless of reason or advance notice, will not be honored. We're happy to schedule a trial hour (at a normal rate) to make sure we are a good fit but once a package is bought, there are no refunds. Exceptions may be made due to serious illness, death, or other emergency.
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While we strive to provide the best education possible, we make no promises or warranties regarding a student's performance as a result of tutoring provided. 
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We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason at any time.

Question 10

Safety Policy

Accepted Answer

Kate is a licensed and certified teacher with the California Teaching Commission, CTC #120563373. She is a certified mandated reporter (CERT-00964645) and has updated fingerprinting / LiveScan certifications.  ​

All other tutors have been given thorough background checks.

Frequently asked questions