Sylvan, sister company to the better known Sylvan Learning Centers, is one of eight vendors approved to provide private tutoring to low-performing schools in Louisiana. Seven of the companies will work only in New Orleans. In late August, Sylvan agreed to extend its service to Baton Rouge as well.

If no one else steps forward, Sylvan will have a monopoly in Baton Rouge. East Baton Rouge Parish school system officials estimate that at more than $900 per student, Sylvan stands to make as much as $500,000 at Prescott Middle alone, and even more as more schools are ordered to offer the services.

[Alice Cherry] said Sylvan offers tutoring to improve students' overall skills. While their materials are aligned with state standards, the company is not offering test preparation, like the tutoring for the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program 21 common at many schools. She also said the company specialized in teaching students who are years behind their peers academically.