FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who do we serve?  

We serve students who may fit any of the following categories, ages pre-k through adult:  

• Language-based learning differences including:  dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia

• Twice-exceptional: students with a learning difference as well as an above-average IQ

• Specific Learning Disabilities

• ADD and ADHD

• Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Mild developmental disabilities

• Those not acquiring reading or writing skills as expected, or would benefit from individualized teaching

 

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What is your commitment?  

• A typical session (contract) spans 2–4 months, to be determined by PES. Clients commit to an entire session with set lesson dates, much like a sport practice schedule. Schedules are not customized.  

• See policy for specifics on scheduled free lesson make-up days, offered twice a year.

• Clients see a practitioner 2–5 times a week, family decision with recommendations from your practitioner.

• Subsequent sessions: Contracts are offered on a seniority basis. Current client registration is opened prior to accepting new clients. 

  

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How are student needs met?

Pinnacle Education was founded on the belief that all students secure the greatest gains with: diagnostic, explicit, structured, multi-sensory instruction delivered with high expectations and encouragement. While we follow Orton-Gillingham methods, we artfully tailor each lesson to best meet the presented needs of your child.  Our instruction is uniquely crafted to meet the neurological make-up of your child's brain. 

• Specialists use a structured, sequential, multisensory teaching approach (Orton-Gillingham based). For specific information on your specialist's approach see their biography or ask your specialist.

• Our tutors utilize a variety of training including, but not limited to: Orton-Gillingham, Wired for Reading, Slingerland, Wilson, Lindamood-Bell’s Visualizing and Verbalizing, and various oral language and speech pathologist techniques.

• Informal ongoing assessment to identify needs—This is typically not in test form, but anecdotal notes and observations taken during teaching time.  Lessons are, in essence, self-assessing.

• We are very flexible in lesson lengths and topics.  Lessons are individualized to each family’s goals and the student’s needs.  

• Each student’s lessons are a product of a thoughtfully designed custom program for that student’s needs.

 

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Where do our lessons occur?  

Office Lessons ​

• Enumclaw Washington

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Remote Lessons

• We have been honing remote teaching techniques for years, far before it became a necessity.  Utilizing student engagement research with screen and mouse sharing, we deliver lessons with optimal student participation. Our tutors employ interactive options to make online tutoring just as effective and multi-sensory as in person lessons.

• Perfect for the busy family as lessons can be delivered wherever you are—home, vacation, school, on-the-go

 

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When: Contact your specialist for current lesson time availability. 

• Online lessons are 50–60 minutes, with in-person lessons ranging from 40–60 minutes. 

• Lessons can be 2–5 times per week. 

• Once a week is only rarely offered as it doesn’t provide the necessary repetition to make optimal gains.

 

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Typical session tuition includes:

• 40–60 minute lesson: Each lesson is tailored to your child’s predicted needs for that day. They generally consist of 5 minutes of check-in with the parents (either immediately after the lesson or in a brief message sent once a week) and the remainder of the time is spent working with the student. Your tutor will stop lessons 5 minutes before the end of your time to complete their notes and either deliver information to you, or compose a message to later send.

• Lesson preparation time: Lessons can take up to an hour to create depending upon the research involved to meet your student’s individual needs.

• One 20-minute phone call or email per week.

• Progress updates are communicated informally, not in a written report (unless otherwise requested and separately billed).

• Collaboration with classroom teachers and other service providers – This requires a signed release of information form and communication with schools is facilitated by the family.  This is part of the 20 minute weekly communications.

• Unless extra take-home materials are requested, all materials are covered within the session price. Online lessons require families to provide some additional physical materials often including printed materials.

• Homework is not a part of our program. Speak to your specialist for homework options which can be separately billed.

• IEP/504 consultation: School services review available upon request and charged accordingly.

 

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Tuition payment: 

 Click printable information to see PES policy and payment procedures in full.

• New clients pay their first payment with Venmo and then switch to the existing client payment options

• Existing clients may pay through automatic withdrawal (ACH) or personal check

• Clients may pre-pay per month or per session

• Pinnacle utilizes a tuition based payment system which averages your amount due, providing a consistent monthly payment.

• New clients pay a deposits to reserve a lesson time.  Summer and fall also use deposit reservations.

• Schools only pre-pay services by check.

• Invoices may be provided for an additional fee.

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