Paper is a 24/7 online tutoring platform that provides free, unlimited tutoring to K-12 students—but exclusively through school district partnerships, making it unavailable for direct homeschool enrollment.
What is Paper Tutoring?
Paper (formerly GradeSlam) is an educational technology platform offering 24/7 live chat tutoring and essay review services. Founded in 2014 and backed by Google and SoftBank, Paper employs over 3,000 trained tutors covering 200+ topics across math, English, science, social studies, and world languages. The platform uses the Socratic method—tutors guide students to answers rather than providing them directly. Students access unlimited support at no cost because their school districts pay for the service.
Key Takeaways
- Paper partners with school districts, not individual families—homeschoolers cannot enroll directly
- Available 24/7 with live chat tutoring and essay review within 24 hours
- School districts pay $21-$183 per student annually for unlimited access
- Homeschoolers seeking similar services should look at Outschool, Varsity Tutors, or local tutors
Why Homeschoolers Can't Access Paper Directly
Paper's entire business model is B2B (business-to-business). The company contracts with school districts who then provide free access to their enrolled students. There's no consumer-facing product for individual families to purchase. This means homeschoolers cannot simply sign up and pay for Paper services—the platform literally doesn't offer that option. Some homeschoolers in certain districts may have access if their local public school district includes homeschoolers in their services, but this is uncommon.
Alternatives for Homeschoolers
What Makes Paper Different
Paper's approach is notable even if homeschoolers can't access it directly. The platform emphasizes 24/7 availability, meaning students can get help at 2 AM if that's when they're struggling with homework. The essay review service returns feedback within 24 hours on any written work. For school districts, Paper addresses equity concerns by giving all students access to tutoring regardless of family income. If you're researching tutoring options, Paper's model highlights what to look for: immediate availability, trained tutors, and guided learning rather than answer-giving.
The Bottom Line
Paper is an excellent tutoring service—for students whose school districts have contracted with the platform. Homeschoolers need to look elsewhere. The good news: alternatives like Outschool, Varsity Tutors, and local independent tutors offer similar support, often with ESA eligibility. When evaluating options, prioritize services that use guided questioning rather than simply providing answers, offer reasonable availability, and fit your family's budget.
