| On January 8, 2002, President Bush signed | | | | state-approved providers offering |
| into law the No Child Left Behind Act, a | | | | supplemental educational services in your |
| landmark in education reform. This law gives | | | | area. You must choose from this list. |
| you—the parent—new options if | | | | Different kinds of organizations may be on |
| your child’s school needs to improve. | | | | the list, including: private educational |
| One very important option is | | | | providers; public schools; charter schools; |
| “supplemental educational | | | | private schools; school districts; community |
| services.†| | | | organizations (like boys’ and |
| | | | girls’ clubs); and faith-based |
| Supplemental educational services available | | | | organizations, such as churches, synagogues |
| under No Child Left Behind | | | | or mosques. Many providers will offer |
| | | | hands-on tutoring by trained instructors. |
| Your child may be eligible for free tutoring | | | | Others may offer computer-based instruction |
| and other supplemental academic enrichment | | | | that your child can access through a computer |
| services. These services are called | | | | in a school or community center. You can ask |
| “supplemental educational | | | | the school district to help you choose the |
| services†in No Child Left Behind. This | | | | best provider for your child. |
| article explains what supplemental | | | | |
| educational services are and where you can go | | | | What happens after I’ve chosen a |
| for more information. | | | | provider of supplemental educational |
| | | | services? |
| What Are Supplemental Educational Services? | | | | |
| | | | You will meet with the provider and your |
| The term “supplemental educational | | | | school district staff to discuss and agree |
| services†refers to extra help in | | | | upon specific goals for your child; to set up |
| academic subjects, such as reading, language | | | | a schedule for services; and to decide how |
| arts and mathematics, provided free-of-charge | | | | your child’s progress will be |
| to certain students. These services are | | | | measured. Your school district will pay for |
| provided outside the regular school | | | | the supplemental educational services. If you |
| day—before or after school, on | | | | have questions, do not hesitate to contact |
| weekends or in the summer. | | | | your school principal or the Title I director |
| | | | in your child’s school district. |
| Who can get these services? | | | | |
| | | | Where can I get more information? |
| Generally, students who are eligible for free | | | | |
| or reduced-price lunch and are enrolled in | | | | To learn about supplemental educational |
| Title I schools that have been placed on the | | | | services in your area, you may contact: |
| state’s “in need of | | | | |
| improvement†list for two or more years | | | | Your local school district. Your school |
| are eligible to receive free supplemental | | | | principal, other staff in your school or your |
| educational services. | | | | district Title I director will be able to |
| | | | help you. The district phone number is |
| How will I know if my child is eligible? | | | | usually listed in the blue pages of the local |
| | | | telephone directory. |
| Your school district will notify you if your | | | | |
| child is eligible for supplemental | | | | Your local Parental Information and Resource |
| educational services. If you think your child | | | | Center |
| may be eligible, but you have not been | | | | |
| notified, check with your school principal, | | | | The U.S. Department of Education, toll-free |
| the Title I director in your school district, | | | | at 1-888-814-6252. |
| or a local community partner. See the last | | | | |
| section of this article for contact | | | | Finally, be sure to attend parent-teacher |
| information. | | | | conferences, parent organization meetings and |
| | | | other events at your child’s school. |
| How do I find a good supplemental educational | | | | You can get a lot of information, ideas and |
| services program for my child? | | | | help from teachers as well as from other |
| | | | parents. |
| Your school district will give you a list of | | | | |