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North Dakota State PIRC is a Parent Information and Resource Center; Funded by US Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement

SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

Learning is too important for your child not to have the best education possible. The NCLB law gives you some new options if your child�s school fails to meet North Dakota�s academic standards.

The option of public school choice.

All schools must make adequate yearly progress � test scores must improve. If a school fails to make such progress two years in a row, it is identified as a school in need of improvement. Your school district must tell you each year if your child�s school is in need of improvement.

If your child�s school is in need of improvement, you may ask to transfer your child to a higher performing school in your school district. This is called public school choice.

The option of supplemental educational services.

If your child�s school is in need of improvement and fails to make adequate yearly progress for another year, the NCLB law gives you another option. It requires the school district to offer your child extra help after school. This help is called supplemental educational services. It is meant to help students catch up if they are behind in important subjects like reading, language arts, and math. The school district must continue to provide these services until the North Dakota State Education Department says the school is no longer in need of improvement.

Supplemental educational services take place outside of school hours and in many different locations. These services are free to students. School districts, not families, pay for them. The services may include:

  • tutoring (one-on-one teaching),
  • weekend classes, or
  • after-school classes,
  • summer school.
  • The North Dakota State Education Department approves the qualifications of supplemental educational services providers.

    Public schools, private schools, non-profit and for-profit companies and even local colleges, churches, synagogues, mosques, and charities may have eligible programs in your neighborhood. Parents, not schools, must arrange transportation.

    How can you learn more about supplemental educational services for your child?

  • Contact your school. Your child�s teacher of the school principal can tell you if the school is in need of improvement and required to offer supplemental educational services. If your school is failing, find out what supplemental educational services are available to students in your child�s school now.
  • Go online. The North Dakota State Education Department Web Site lists approved supplemental educational providers http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/title1/targeted/general/list.shtm.
  • Make a choice. You have an important role in selecting a supplemental service program for your child. Schools will not make this choice for students. You can ask school officials to help you select the right program for your child.
  • Be active. Together with the supplemental services provider and school district staff, parents should be involved in setting specific learning goals for their child. These goals must say how your child�s progress in the program will be measured. The program activities must be designed to help your child make academic progress.
  • Find out how to help. As a parent, you can ask your child�s teacher, the school principal, or a leader of your school�s parent group what steps the school is taking to improve and how you can help your child and your child�s school make progress toward academic goals.
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