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