Watching your child fall behind in school can be stressful and disheartening. You might wonder whether this is a temporary rough patch or a sign of something deeper, and equally important, what you can actually do about it. The good news is that academic support for struggling students has never been more accessible or varied. Whether your child needs help with specific subjects, has a learning difference, or simply needs someone to believe in their potential again, there are real solutions available.

The path forward doesn’t have to be complicated. Many parents discover that their child’s academic struggles stem from simple, fixable issues—poor study habits, a mismatch with the teaching style, or even undiagnosed learning challenges that become manageable once identified. Others find that a combination of approaches works best. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of support available, how to identify what your child actually needs, and how to take the first steps toward improvement.

Why Your Child Might Be Struggling

Before exploring support options, it’s helpful to understand that academic struggles rarely happen for just one reason. Your child might be dealing with a combination of factors, and pinpointing them will help you choose the right help.

Some children struggle with the core material itself—they genuinely don’t understand the concepts being taught. Others have the ability but lack motivation, organizational skills, or confidence. Then there are students with undiagnosed learning disabilities like dyslexia or dyscalculia, attention difficulties, anxiety, or social challenges that indirectly affect their academics.

External factors matter too. Is your child getting enough sleep? Are there issues at home causing stress? Has their social life been disrupted? Sometimes a child’s academic performance dips because their basic needs aren’t being met or because they’re dealing with emotional challenges that take their mental energy away from schoolwork.

The most productive first step is often a conversation with your child’s teacher. Teachers spend hours observing your child in an academic setting and can offer valuable insights about where the difficulty lies and what they’ve already tried.

School-Based Support Systems

Most schools have formal structures in place to help struggling students, though awareness of these programs varies widely among parents.

Talk to Your Child’s Teacher

This remains the most important conversation you can have. Ask specific questions: Where exactly is your child struggling? Is it in understanding the material, staying organized, keeping up with homework, or something else? What strategies has the teacher already tried? Are there patterns you’ve noticed—does your child struggle more in certain subjects or types of assignments?

A good teacher wants your child to succeed and will often have practical suggestions. They might recommend extra practice materials, a different approach to teaching the concept, or they might suggest moving your child’s seat to reduce distractions. Many teachers offer additional help before school, during lunch, or after school if your child is interested.

Intervention Programs

Most schools now implement tiered intervention systems. This typically means that when a child’s performance falls below expected levels, they’re placed in increasingly intensive support programs. Your child might start with small-group instruction in their classroom, then progress to resource room time with a specialist if needed.

These programs aren’t punitive—they’re designed specifically to catch kids early and prevent problems from compounding. A child who struggles with reading in second grade will likely struggle with all subjects by fifth grade if the reading issue isn’t addressed, so early intervention makes real sense.

Special Education Services

If your child has a diagnosed disability—whether it’s a specific learning disability, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or another condition—they may qualify for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This involves developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) tailored to your child’s needs.

An IEP outlines specific goals, accommodations (like extended test time), and services your child will receive. Having an IEP can be genuinely transformative for some students because it ensures they receive the support they’re legally entitled to. Many parents worry this will stigmatize their child, but in practice, kids care most about whether the help actually works.

504 Plans

Not all students who need accommodations qualify for special education. A 504 plan provides accommodations for students with disabilities that significantly impact learning but don’t necessarily require special education services. For example, a child with ADHD might have a 504 plan that allows them to take tests in a separate, quiet room, or a child with anxiety might be permitted to step out of class for a few minutes if they’re feeling overwhelmed.

Private Tutoring and Academic Coaching

When school-based support isn’t sufficient, many families turn to tutoring or academic coaching.

One-on-One Tutoring

A good tutor works directly with your child on specific material they’re struggling with. The benefit is personalized attention and the ability to work at your child’s pace without worrying about falling behind classmates. Tutors can also explain concepts in different ways until something clicks.

Finding the right tutor matters. Ask for recommendations from teachers or other parents. Look for someone with expertise in your child’s specific subject and age group. Some tutors specialize in working with students with learning differences. Consider meeting with a potential tutor first to see if they seem patient, encouraging, and able to engage with your child.

The cost varies widely—anywhere from $25 to $100 or more per hour depending on location and tutor experience. Many families find this investment worthwhile, though it’s worth trying school-based support first since that’s typically free.

Academic Coaching

Academic coaches are different from subject tutors. Instead of teaching content, they help students develop better organizational skills, study strategies, time management, and confidence. This is particularly helpful for middle and high school students who are struggling not necessarily with the material itself, but with managing their workload.

If your child is disorganized, forgetful, or procrastinates frequently, coaching might help more than subject tutoring. A coach might help your child set up a planner system, break large projects into manageable steps, or develop a consistent study routine.

Psychological Assessment and Diagnosis

Sometimes academic struggles are rooted in something that can’t be fixed through tutoring alone—a learning disability, ADHD, anxiety, or processing difficulties.

Psychoeducational Evaluation

A comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation involves assessments of your child’s cognitive abilities, academic achievement, learning style, and sometimes emotional functioning. Typically conducted by a school psychologist or an outside specialist, this evaluation can identify specific learning disabilities, ADHD, or other factors affecting your child’s academics.

Many schools offer free evaluations if you suspect your child has a disability. If you want an outside evaluation for a second opinion or faster results, you’ll likely pay out of pocket, though some insurance plans cover this.

The results give you concrete information rather than guesses. You’ll learn your child’s strengths, specific areas of weakness, and most importantly, recommendations for support strategies that actually work with how your child’s brain processes information.

ADHD and Anxiety Evaluations

If your child seems easily distracted, impulsive, forgetful, or overly anxious about schoolwork, it’s worth exploring whether these are factors. Both ADHD and anxiety can significantly impact academic performance, and both are treatable. A proper evaluation involves more than a quick checklist—it should include observations, history, and sometimes rating scales from multiple people who interact with your child.

Learning Differences and Specialized Instruction

Students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other specific learning differences often benefit from specialized teaching approaches.

Structured Literacy Programs

Dyslexia—difficulty with reading and spelling—affects roughly 5-10% of school-age children. Fortunately, it’s highly responsive to structured literacy instruction, which breaks reading down into explicit, systematic components. Programs like Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, and Structured Word Inquiry have strong evidence behind them.

Some schools employ specialists trained in these methods. If your school doesn’t, seeking out a tutor trained in structured literacy can make a dramatic difference in a child’s reading skills and confidence.

Math-Specific Support

Similarly, students with dyscalculia or math anxiety benefit from approaches specifically designed for how they learn. This might involve using manipulatives, visual representations, or breaking math into concrete steps rather than abstract rules.

Emotional and Behavioral Support

Sometimes academic struggles are connected to emotional wellbeing. A child who’s anxious, depressed, or dealing with behavioral issues will struggle in school regardless of their intellectual ability.

School Counselors and Social Workers

Most schools have counselors or social workers who can support your child emotionally. They can help with anxiety, social difficulties, behavioral challenges, or transitions. They’re also a good resource for your child to talk through why school feels hard.

Outside Therapy

If your child needs more intensive mental health support, a therapist outside school can help. Cognitive behavioral therapy, for example, is effective for anxiety and can improve academic performance. Many therapists specialize in children and adolescents and understand how emotional challenges affect school.

Home-Based Strategies That Support Academic Success

While professional support matters, what happens at home significantly impacts your child’s academic success.

Create a Supportive Home Environment

Establish a consistent homework routine with minimal distractions. This doesn’t necessarily mean hours of intense study—quality matters more than quantity. Make sure your child has adequate sleep, regular meals, and physical activity, as these are foundational to learning.

Equally important is your attitude. If you communicate that school is something you value and that your child is capable of improvement, they’re more likely to believe it themselves. Praise effort and specific progress rather than innate ability. Instead of “You’re so smart,” try “I noticed you worked really hard on understanding that concept, and you got it.”

Help Develop Organization and Study Skills

Many children aren’t taught explicit study skills. You can help by introducing a planner, creating a homework checklist, or teaching your child how to break a large project into smaller steps. These skills compound—a child who learns to organize themselves in elementary school will be dramatically better prepared for middle and high school demands.

Getting Started: Your First Steps

If your child is struggling academically, begin with a conversation with their teacher. Ask what support is already in place and whether they’ve noticed specific patterns. If you sense something deeper might be involved—a learning difference, ADHD, or emotional issue—ask about getting an evaluation.

From there, decisions become clearer. You might discover your child just needs a bit of tutoring in a specific subject. Or you might learn something that changes how you understand your child—and unlocks better support. Either way, you’re taking action, and that matters. Academic struggles are solvable, especially when you have the right support in place.

Academic Support for Struggling Children

School-Based Support

Teacher Communication and Intervention

• Schedule conferences with your child’s teacher to discuss specific academic challenges
• Request information about classroom accommodations and modifications
• Ask about small group instruction or peer tutoring programs
• Inquire about extra help sessions before or after school

Special Education Services

• Request a formal evaluation if your child may have a learning disability
• Individualized Education Program (IEP) that outlines specific goals and support
• 504 Plan for students with disabilities requiring accommodations
• Resource room or specialized instruction in weak subject areas

Academic Support Programs

• Remedial classes or intervention programs
• After-school tutoring provided by the school
• Summer school programs for skill reinforcement
• Homework help clubs or study groups

Professional Support

Educational Assessment

• Psychoeducational evaluation to identify learning disabilities
• Cognitive testing to understand learning style and strengths
• Reading or math assessments by specialists
• Assessment of attention, executive function, and other factors

Tutoring Services

• One-on-one private tutoring in specific subjects
• Test preparation services for standardized tests
• Online tutoring platforms with flexible scheduling
• Specialized tutors for learning disabilities (dyslexia, dyscalculia)

Mental Health Support

• Educational therapist to address learning and emotional factors
• Counselor to discuss anxiety or motivation issues
• Therapist specializing in learning differences
• Assessment for ADHD or other conditions affecting academics

Home-Based Strategies

Homework Support

• Create a dedicated, quiet study space
• Establish consistent homework routines and schedules
• Break assignments into smaller, manageable chunks
• Use timers and organizational tools

Learning Assistance

• Work with your child on study skills and time management
• Read together or listen to audiobooks
• Use educational apps and online resources
• Practice problem-solving strategies

Communication and Monitoring

• Regular check-ins about school and academic progress
• Monitor grades and assignment completion
• Ask about test scores and areas needing improvement
• Maintain open dialogue with teachers about progress

Community and External Resources

Nonprofit Organizations

• Learning disability associations offering resources and support groups
• Tutoring centers specializing in academic support
• Community centers with after-school programs
• Boys and Girls Clubs with homework assistance

Online Resources

• Khan Academy for supplemental instruction
• IXL, Mathway, and subject-specific learning platforms
• Websites focused on learning disabilities
• Virtual tutoring services and educational websites

Additional Considerations

Nutrition and Health

• Ensure adequate sleep (8-10 hours for children/teens)
• Provide nutritious meals for brain function
• Regular physical activity to improve focus and mood
• Screen for vision or hearing problems

Motivation and Mindset

• Work on building confidence and self-esteem
• Focus on growth mindset principles
• Set realistic, achievable academic goals
• Celebrate progress and improvements

Specialized Areas

• Speech and language therapy if communication affects academics
• Occupational therapy for fine motor or sensory issues
• English as a Second Language (ESL) support for language learners
• Gifted education programs if advanced acceleration is needed