Grade Potential Tutoring: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

According to Grade Potential's About Us page, the company was founded in 2002, when David Serwitz launched Make The Grade, LLC while attending Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California, frustrated by the lack of quality in-person tutoring options. The company says its mission is to make learning personal through one-on-one tutoring tailored to each student.

The About Us page traces the company's growth. Seattle became the first of many new markets beginning in 2010, and the opening of its 20th office in Washington, D.C., in 2017 brought Grade Potential to the East Coast. An online platform kept tutoring going during the pandemic in 2021, and in 2024 Serwitz partnered with his successor and current CEO, Jared Lenner. The page lists a national network of more than 600 school districts and more than 50,000 students.

Grade Potential's website offers tutoring for elementary school, middle school, high school, and college students, and its location pages include states such as Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, New York, Texas, and Washington. Its tutor listings describe weekly academic support for current coursework, exam preparation, and foundational skills, in subjects that include math, English language arts, science, foreign languages, social studies, and test prep.

On its For Tutors page, Grade Potential says it partners with independent tutors in the local communities it serves, including college and graduate students, certified teachers, and working professionals. It describes introducing tutoring opportunities that match each tutor's profile, and tutors choose which engagements to accept. Because the model is built around independent tutors rather than a traditional staff, candidates should read each listing carefully to understand how the arrangement works.

Company culture and employee programs: Grade Potential's tutor listings emphasize flexibility, including setting your own availability, choosing the students and sessions that fit your schedule, and using your own teaching methods and materials. The listings also mention an online platform for logging sessions and tracking pay and a support team for coordination. Pay and requirements vary by location and posting, so candidates should confirm specifics in the listing for their area.

Yes. Employers and education service providers, including Grade Potential Tutoring, are legally permitted to run background checks on people who work with students, provided they follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and applicable state and local laws. The FCRA governs candidate consent, disclosure, and adverse action when a third-party report is used. Screening is especially common when the work involves one-on-one time with children and teenagers.

Grade Potential is generally reported to run background checks on tutors, and its tutor listings say a full background check is required before meeting with any students. This is consistent with practice among education companies that place tutors in contact with minors. The scope of the check may vary by location and role.

The Grade Potential tutor application process typically begins with submitting a profile through the link on a tutor listing, followed by a quality review of that profile. Once a tutor is approved, Grade Potential reaches out as tutoring matches come in, and the tutor chooses which to accept. Listings indicate that a background check is completed before a tutor meets students. Specific steps, timing, and requirements may vary by location and subject.

A Grade Potential background check typically takes a few business days, though searches covering several counties or states can take longer. The timeline depends on the searches ordered, how quickly courts and agencies respond, and the candidate's address history. Candidates who want typical timelines in more detail can review background check turnaround times.

The company decides which searches to order, so a Grade Potential background check may differ by location. For a role working one-on-one with students, a check may include some or all of the following:

Candidates should review the disclosure and consent forms they receive to understand which searches will be run for their specific role.

Grade Potential's tutor listings do not mention a drug test, and one may not apply to most tutoring engagements. Drug testing is more commonly tied to safety-sensitive jobs than to part-time academic tutoring, though practices vary by employer and location. Candidates should review the tutor listing and any onboarding paperwork for the area where they plan to work.

The lookback period for a background check depends on the type of search and the laws of the state or country where the candidate lives or worked. In the United States, the FCRA generally limits consumer reporting agencies from reporting most negative information older than seven years, with certain exceptions for higher-salary positions and specific record types such as convictions. Some states have stricter limits. Candidates with records in multiple jurisdictions may see different lookback windows applied to different searches within the same report.

Grade Potential is generally reported to review applicants with criminal records case by case, and its detailed policies are not publicly stated. Because tutors work directly with students, some convictions may be viewed more closely than others, and factors such as the type of offense, how much time has passed, and the nature of the work may matter. Many states and cities have "ban-the-box" laws that limit when employers can ask about criminal history, and requirements vary by location.

Candidates applying to Grade Potential should expect to give written consent before a background check is started, typically on a disclosure form provided during onboarding. Its listings also state that tutors must be at least 18 years old and authorized to work physically within the United States. Applicants should be prepared to supply their full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and address history, since accurate details help ensure searches cover the correct jurisdictions.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act is a US federal law that governs how consumer reporting agencies collect, use, and share background check information. Under the FCRA, employers must obtain written consent before running a background check, provide a copy of the report and a summary of rights if they intend to take adverse action based on the results, and allow the candidate an opportunity to dispute inaccurate information before a final decision is made. For a detailed overview of how the FCRA applies to background checks, visit Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Grade Potential describes its tutors as independent tutors it partners with, rather than as a traditional staff. Its For Tutors page says tutors choose which engagements to accept, and listings describe setting your own availability and using your own teaching methods. Because classification and pay arrangements can vary, candidates should read the details in each listing and ask the company how work and payment are handled before accepting an engagement.

Grade Potential's tutor listings state that a full background check is required before a tutor meets with any students. The company ties this to its safety and diligence standards. Candidates who are approved after the profile quality review should expect the background check step to come before their first session, and they should review the disclosure form closely when it arrives.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Grade Potential Tutoring may see and help you identify potential inaccuracies before they affect your job application. In one secure report you can review:

Create your report in minutes at Checkr Personal Background Checks. To showcase verified credentials proactively, build a free Checkr Profile you can share with recruiters, hiring managers, or potential employers.

Check your report status in the Candidate Portal. Or, visit the Checkr Help Center for FAQs, dispute steps, and to contact support.

The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.