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Getting Extra Help for Your Child...On January 8, 2002, President Bush signed his education plan, No Child Left Behind, into law. The law united both political parties behind the principle that schools must be held accountable for their results and that every child must learn. As part of that law, when a disadvantaged child is attending a low performing school, federal funds can be used to provide supplemental services for that child. What are supplemental services? The term supplemental services refers to extra help provided to students in reading, language arts and math. This extra help can be provided before or after school or on weekends. What does the term in need of improvement mean? Under No Child Left Behind, every state must set the goals that each school must meet. Schools that do not make adequate progress for two consecutive years will be identified as needing improvement. How will I know if my child is eligible for supplemental services? If your family is classified as low-income by your school district and your child's school is designated as needing improvement for the second year, then your child is eligible. How Do I Know...How do I know if my child's school is in need of improvement? Under the No Child Left Behind Act, school districts are required to tell you promptly if your child's school is in need of improvement. Your state is also required to publish a list of schools deemed to be in need of improvement. You may also contact the U.S. Department of Education, which is tracking school improvement for parents.
How many schools are in need of improvement? How many schools are in need of improvement? According to state departments of education, more than 7,000 schools nationwide are considered in need of improvement—a significant number of them in the second year in this status; therefore the disadvantaged students who attend those schools are eligible for extra help. If my child is in a school that needs improvement, how can I begin to get help? Your school district is required by law to provide you with a list of the state-approved education programs available in your area. What Can I Do...What kinds of programs are offered? Before- and after-school tutoring and remedial classes in reading, language arts or math are just some options that might be available to your son or daughter. Can I get private help if necessary? Yes. Nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies and even local colleges, churches, synagogues, mosques and charities may have eligible programs in your neighborhood. Your school district will provide you with a list. How do I choose a good program? The law requires that supplemental education service providers adhere to high-quality, research-based instruction. Your school district is required to give you information about every available program in your area—including information about the providers, their qualifications and their effectiveness. Local school district officials will help you select a provider if you request their guidance. How is the provider paid? In most cases your school district will pay for the supplemental services directly. Once you select a program or tutor, you will meet with the provider and district staff. You will each set specific academic goals for your child, determine how those goals will be measured and establish a deadline for when they will be achieved. Contact your child's school principal to find out how it works. Where Can I Go...Will my school or school district inform me about programs that are available? The law requires your district to provide notification to parents at least annually about the availability of supplemental education services. In addition, they must provide a description of the state-approved providers in your area from which you may choose if your child is eligible to receive such services. What if my child's school is listed as being in need of improvement, but my district hasn't contacted me with a full list of my options? If your district hasn't contacted you, then you should contact your local and state school officials. The Department of Education's Web site provides a list of contacts for your state.
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Official U.S. Department of Education web site.