A Helping Hand for Homework : Services Offer Tutorial Aids for the Lagging Student

Much has changed in education in the last 10 years. Microcomputers are a common sight in the classrooms of even very young children, and certain school subjects--math and science, for example--are taught in a way that can seem remarkably advanced to the parents of children who are having difficulty in class. If your child needs a hand with homework that’s beyond your ken, don’t despair. There is more homework help out there than most people realize.

Start by discussing the subject with the child’s teacher or principal. Some Southland schools offer free tutoring in the afternoons by fellow students or volunteers from local colleges and the community. But if such help is not available, call the local school district for advice. Many districts maintain lists of tutors who are often qualified teachers. They are not usually supervised, however, so quality could vary and their fees can sometimes be as much as $20 an hour.

Some of the programs listed below charge fees for their services, but many do not. The tutoring is provided by certified teachers, adult volunteers and, in certain cases, high school students. Several of these projects depend largely on student volunteers from schools such as UCLA and USC; these tutorials serve a variety of communities; many are specifically for minority students.

Additional, for-profit tutoring services can often be found in the Yellow Pages, and you can find out about programs designed by a school to help its own students from the schools themselves. You might also want to check local YMCA, YWCA, Jewish Community Center or Boys and Girls Clubs. The YMCAs and JCCs that provide homework help usually do so only for those enrolled in their after-school programs, which include recreational activities. They charge about $30 a week. The Boys and Girls Clubs that offer homework help often charge about $5 annually. Members can participate in recreational activities but may choose to come for homework help only.

All Areas

These programs provide assistance to students throughout the Southern California area: Homework Hotline, (800) LA-STUDY. The Los Angeles Unified School District offers help with English and math Monday through Thursday 3:30-6 p.m. The hot line opened in September. Most callers are assisted over the phone, but some questions are answered on television’s Channel 58 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The first half of the show is devoted to math and the second half to English. Junior high school students are the target audience, but elementary and high school students may also call. The Hotline has eight phone lines and answers about 600 calls a week. The best time to call is either right before or right after the show, when the lines are less busy. The eight or nine tutors who answer the phones are either teachers or college students majoring in English or math.

Community Libraries. Students can find limited homework assistance at their local libraries. Most do not offer tutorials, but in many cases librarians will help a child define an assignment and suggest suitable reading material. The reference librarian will show students how to research an assignment using, for example, the Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature, an encyclopedia or atlas.

Los Angeles Central Library, (213) 612-3200. Monday through Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Students who phone can get some quick facts (On what date did Franklin D. Roosevelt die? How do you spell Tyrannosaurus rex? ) from a reliable source.

Community Access Library Line, (800) 372-6641. Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Students can get answers to brief questions about community services over the phone through this Los Angeles County service. Librarians direct callers to many different sources of information. If a student, for example, has to write a term paper on homes for unwed mothers, librarians will provide names of agencies and other sources of information on the topic. Multilingual service is available, and hearing-impaired students can be accommodated.

Reading Centers. Hours vary. These centers or clinics, which are located at many Southland universities and libraries, help individuals overcome English reading and writing difficulties. University reading clinics are often affiliated with the college’s education department. There is usually a fee for such help. California State Northridge, for example, charges $125 a semester.

Library Adult Reading Project, (213) 750-3573. This state-funded project, open 8:30 a.m to 5 p.m., is designed to reduce illiteracy and serves teen-agers who are at least 16. The free service is available in at least 10 centers including locations in Granada Hills, Pacoima, West Los Angeles, Wilmington, Watts, South-Central Los Angeles, East Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Central Library downtown. Hours are flexible.

Upward Bound. Hours vary. This federally funded project offers free tutorials for economically disadvantaged high school students whose parents do not have a college education. The program is offered at community centers and on campuses including East Los Angeles College, UCLA, USC, Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Northridge and Cal State Long Beach. The program is also offered at community centers such as Volunteers of America, 1833 West 8th St., Suite 213, Downtown Los Angeles, (213) 381-1353. Myrna Joseph, program director, can be contacted at VOA for an application and additional information.

Los Angeles

Remedial Reading and Learning Center, 2239 W. Washington Blvd., (213) 732-1350. Monday through Thursday 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; weekend sessions may be arranged at some of the tutors’ homes. Students 8 to 18 are helped with reading, math and writing. The service is free, but there is a waiting list. For more information call Helen Ramey, project director.

Gwen Bolden After School Tutorial Program, Stentorian Center, 1409 W. Vernon Ave., (213) 293-1034, (213) 293-6581. Monday through Friday 2:30-5 p.m. Tutoring may be arranged at other times at a tutor’s home. Students 6 to 18 are given free homework help in all subjects with a focus on reading and math. Both professional teachers and volunteer peer tutors from age 15 to 21 work with the students.

Esquire Boys and Girls Club, 8101 S. Vermont Ave., (213) 778-6906. Monday through Friday 2:30-6 p.m. Elementary, junior high school and high school students may get study assistance without an appointment on a walk-in basis. Free.

DESH (Desarrollo Estudiantil Hispano), 2808 W. Temple St., Room 202, (213) 383-5261. Monday through Friday 4-7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Elementary, junior high and high school students can get help here with all subjects. All students must pay a $10 registration fee. Parents may donate whatever they can (minimum $5 a week) in exchange for three hours of tutoring a week; they must also be members of the parents’ committee, which helps with fund-raising. If they don’t join the parents’ committee, parents pay the registration fee plus $6 an hour for tutoring. Summer program runs June 24 to Sept. 5. For more information, contact Mario Hernandez, executive director.

Community Center, George Washington Carver Park, 1400 East 118th St., (213) 566-2039. Wednesday 4-7 p.m. Elementary, junior high and high school students can get help with all homework subjects. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge.

West

Homework Center, Venice Library, 610 California Ave., Venice, (213) 821-1769. Monday through Friday 2:30-4:30 p.m. The center offers free help to elementary, junior high and high school students with most subjects.

Maple Center, 390 N. Alpine Drive, Suite 101, Beverly Hills, (213) 271-9999. Monday through Thursday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-noon. Free tutoring for elementary school students is offered. Available only to Beverly Hills residents or to children whose parents work in the city. Call Ruth Kranhouse, tutoring coordinator, for additional information.

Culver City Youth Center, 4117 Overland Ave., Culver City, (213) 202-5693. Tuesday and Thursday 6-9 p.m. for help in math, science and history; Wednesday from 7-8:30 p.m. for help with English. For students in junior high and high school, this free service is offered to Culver City residents only. Call Faye Ainsworth, recreation coordinator, for additional information.

After School at Fernald, Fernald School, UCLA, 10620 Sunset Blvd., Westwood, (213) 825-2140. Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-noon. Programs offered on an hourly basis include homework assistance; improving reading, math, writing and spelling skills and overcoming emotional blocks and negative attitudes toward learning. Students of all ages accepted. Fees: $14 for an individual session and $8 for a group session.

Regis House Community Center, 11346 Iowa Ave., West Los Angeles, (213) 477-8168. Monday through Thursday 2:30-5 p.m. for elementary school students; Tuesday 6:30-8:30 p.m. for junior high and high school students. Young people can get homework help in all school subjects. Those who live in the West Los Angeles area pay $10 a semester; students from other areas pay $20 a semester.

South

Homework Hotline, Inglewood Unified School District, (213) 673-7730. Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-4:30 p.m. Children of all ages can phone in to get help in math, science, arts, English and social studies. Students are not required to live in Inglewood to use this service.

San Pedro Regional Branch Library, 931 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro, (213) 548-7779. English and Spanish reading clubs for junior high and high school students meet at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and on alternating Fridays and Saturdays. No charge. Call Antonia Herrera, young adult librarian, for further information.

North Torrance Teen Center, 3612 W. Artesia Blvd., Torrance, (213) 532-0880. Monday through Thursday 4-9 p.m. This program is mainly for youngsters 12 to 18, but the center will help elementary school students as well. It costs $1 a year to join the center; participants must be enrolled in a Torrance school to qualify. For more information, call Debra Reed, recreation coordinator at the City of Torrance Parks and Recreation Department. Telephone (213) 618-2930.

Children’s Learning and Safety Program, Mona Park, 2291 East 121st St., Compton, (213) 639-2413. Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. Free homework help for kids 6 to 12 is offered. Everyone is welcome. For more information call Beatrice Halliberton, recreation leader.

San Fernando Valley

Homework Club, Pacific Park, 501 S. Pacific Ave., Glendale, (818) 956-2009. Monday through Thursday 3:30-4:30 p.m. Recreation leaders provide free homework in all subjects to elementary and junior high school students. For more information call Christy Kimberlin, Glendale Parks Recreation Division, (818) 956-2000.

Santa Rosa Community Center, 511 Kalisher St., San Fernando, (818) 365-3194. Monday through Thursday 2:30-3:30 p.m. Services are geared to elementary schoolchildren. Tutoring is free, but children are charged a $6 annual membership fee to join the center. Summer program, July 15-Aug. 23, costs $12 per child; call Belinda Marquez, project director, for further information.

Oak Park Library, 899 N. Kanan Road, Agoura, (818) 889-2239. Monday 7:30-9 p.m. Junior high and high school students can get free help with schoolwork. There is no need to register, but students interested in help with advanced levels of math, science or foreign languages should call to make sure an appropriate tutor will be available.

YMCA After School Sunshine Co., 18810 Vanowen St., Reseda, (818) 345-7393. Monday through Friday; hours vary. Homework programs for elementary schoolchildren are offered at seven centers serving Agoura, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Encino, Northridge, Reseda, Tarzana, West Van Nuys and Woodland Hills. The fee is $145 for one month for kindergarten children; students in grades one through six pay $110 monthly.

Guadalupe Youth Center, 21600 Hart St., Canoga Park, (818) 340-2050. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 2:30-5 p.m. For elementary school students who are Canoga Park residents only. The registration fee is $6, and there is no additional charge for homework help. Call Gabriel Hernandez, project director, for additional information.

North

Pasadena Girls Club, Main Branch at 3160 E. Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena, (818) 796-6115. North Branch at 1505 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, (818) 791-1332. Monday through Thursday 2-3 p.m. or at other times by appointment. For girl students in elementary through high school. Membership fee of $20 a semester entitles students to homework help and computer training in addition to the regular recreation activities offered by the club. Parents who cannot afford to pay may do volunteer work at the club. The club sends mobile units--bedecked trucks and folding tent trailers--to various sites throughout the Los Angeles basin to provide homework help. Contact Lindy DeWit, executive director, and Penny Daniels, DeWit’s assistant.

East

VITAL (Volunteers Investing Time to Aid Learning), 900 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, (818) 308-2611. Monday through Thursday 2:30-4 p.m. This high school peer-tutoring program is offered at three high schools in the Alhambra School District. There is no charge, and the service is offered to high school students from all districts. Call Harriett Steinhaus, director, for further information.

Monterey Park Girls and Boys Club, 302 S. Ramona Ave., Monterey Park, (818) 573-2831. Monday through Thursday 2:30-5:30 p.m. Students in elementary school can get help in all subjects. There is no charge except for a $5 annual membership fee to join the club.

El Calvario Community Center, 11234 E. Montecito Drive, El Monte, (818) 444-4541. Monday through Friday 2:30-4:30 p.m. The center’s study hall welcomes children of all ages for free homework help. Call Ben Gallegos, study hall director, for additional information.

Heritage Park After-School Program, 2900 Brea Canyon Road, Diamond Bar, (714) 598-1204. Monday through Friday 1:30-5:30 p.m. For children 5 to 12. There is a $10 weekly charge for the center’s full afternoon program, which includes assistance with homework. Call Sue Goodwin, recreation leader, for more information.

Orange County

Homework Hotline of Orange Unified School District, (714) 997-6338, Monday through Thursday 3:30-4:30 p.m. The tutoring can also be seen on cable Channel 25. Elementary, junior high and high school students can get free help with all subjects on this TV call-in program. Contact Tom Saenz, administrative assistant for special programs, (714) 997-6321.

Homework Assistance Program, (714) 997-6141. Tuesday and Wednesday 6:30-8:30 p.m. This program, sponsored by the Orange Unified School District’s School Pride Foundation, provides free homework help to kids of all ages. Sites are in the libraries of Canyon High School in Anaheim, El Modena High School in Orange, Villa Park High School in Villa Park and Orange High School in Orange. Open only to students in the Orange Unified School District.

LEARN (Laguna Enrichment and Resource Network), 920 Glenneyre St., Suite W, Laguna Beach, (714) 497-6011. Hours vary. LEARN provides homework help for elementary, junior high and high school students. The fee is $2-$10 an hour for small groups and $20-$25 an hour for individual instruction. Call Gene Gravley, director, for further information.

Figueroa After-School Program, 521 N. Figueroa St., Santa Ana, (714) 554-1979. Inside the Figueroa Community Center. Monday through Friday 2-6 p.m. Children 6 to 14 can receive free homework help. Limited to Santa Ana residents.

Boys and Girls Club, 10161 Moody Ave., Cypress, (714) 527-2697. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 3-6 p.m. Elementary, junior high and high school students can get free help with all homework except foreign languages. Computers are available for student use.