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A local community group. Your place of worship, community center, parent
organization, or other local group may also be able to help. You can also get a
lot of information and ideas by talking to other parents and by attending parent-teacher
conferences, parent organization meetings and other events at your child's school.
What does it mean to say that a school is in "needs improvement status"?
As part of the No Child Left Behind Act, states are required to set definitions
of adequate yearly progress (AYP), the minimum performance that districts and schools
must reach every year on state achievement tests. Title I schools that don't make
AYP for at least two years are given "needs improvement" status. A school that stays
in "needs improvement status" for two years must offer NCLB Tutoring to students.
States must publish these lists of schools.
The timeline of school improvement status can be confusing. To better understand
how students become eligible for NCLB Tutoring, consider this example. Imagine that
your child attends Jones Elementary School, which is a Title I school.
Year 1: The state says that Jones Elementary School has not made "adequate yearly
progress" (AYP).
Year 2: The state says that Jones Elementary School has still not made AYP. The
state places Jones Elementary School in "needs improvement" status.
Year 3: The state says that Jones Elementary School has still not made AYP. Jones
Elementary School stays in "needs improvement" status.
Jones Elementary School students become eligible for supplemental educational services.
Note: Schools that do not make adequate yearly progress for two years
in a row must offer students the opportunity to transfer to a better-performing
public school. For information about this school choice option, visit the U.S. Department of Education's website.
How can I find out about free tutoring provider options for my child?
Each state develops a list of potential NCLB Tutoring providers. The list is broken
down by the district(s) in which the providers can serve. To get on this list, providers
are approved by the state. States select providers that offer high-quality, research-based
programs that are in line with state academic standards.
These providers can be any of the following:
- For-profit companies.
- Non-profit groups.
- Local community programs.
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Colleges or universities.
- National organizations.
- Faith-based groups.
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Private and charter schools.
- Public schools and districts that have not been
identified as in need of improvement.
Many providers will offer "hands on" tutoring by trained instructors. Others may
offer Internet-based instruction that students can access through a computer at
home, in a school, or at a community center.
To find out whether your child qualifies for NCLB Tutoring, ask your school district.
The district must inform you about this service and provide information about state-approved
NCLB Tutoring providers in your area. If you need help in selecting a provider,
ask your district for assistance.
You can find a list of approved NCLB Tutoring providers in your state by visiting
our NCLB Tutoring by State page. Select your
state and click "Approved NCLB Tutoring Provider List" in your state profile.
You can also find information about NCLB Tutoring providers in your area by contacting
your school or district, a local community group, your local Parent Information and Resource Center, or the U.S. Department
of Education (toll-free number: 1-800-872-5327).
What are my options if my child is not eligible for free NCLB tutoring?
If your child is not eligible, he or she may still be able to get low-cost tutoring. To find out, parents can also reach out to:
- Local colleges and/or universities may offer tutoring programs in local school districts.
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Local community service agencies may have some recommendations.
- Public libraries
in communities may have information about tutoring programs.
- Religious organizations
and places of worship may offer tutoring services.
- Companies often do volunteer
work and may have programs in which employees provide tutoring services to local
students.
- Your local Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC) may also
be able to help. To find your local PIRC, go to the Parent Information and Resource Center
Website.
What kind of information should I expect to receive from my district about free tutoring
or NCLB Tutoring?
Your school district must inform you if your child qualifies for NCLB Tutoring and
give you a list of NCLB Tutoring providers in your area. The information you receive
about providers should be easy to understand and describe the services of each provider.
For example, the information should at least tell you:
- Which subject areas (such as reading or math) and which grade levels the provider
can serve.
- Whether the provider has a track record of helping raise student
achievement.
- The qualifications of the staff who will tutor students.
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Where and when the services are offered.
- Whether the provider can serve students
with disabilities or students who are English language learners.
The information you receive from the school district will also clearly describe
how to select a provider and include deadlines for you to sign up for services.
When possible, districts will provide this information in language(s) your family
understands. If you ask your district for assistance, your district is required
to help you choose a provider.
Look for information about providers and the sign-up process in:
- Letters from the district or school.
- School newsletters.
- Newspaper
ads.
- Parent-teacher conferences.
- Parent organization meetings.
Some districts or schools may hold "open house NCLB Tutoring" or provider "fairs"
for families to meet with providers and learn more about their services. You can
also check your state or district websites for information about NCLB Tutoring providers.
Visit our The district must inform you about this service and provide information
about state-approved NCLB Tutoring providers in your area. If you need help in selecting
a provider, ask your district for assistance.
You can find a list of approved NCLB Tutoring providers in your state by visiting
our NCLB Tutoring by State page for a link
to your state NCLB Tutoring website.
What questions should I ask providers?
Click here for a list of
questions to ask when comparing free tutoring or NCLB Tutoring providers.
Once I select a provider, what happens?
Once you choose a provider for your child, your district enters into a contract
with the provider. Your district also pays the provider for tutoring services.
You should meet with your provider, school, and district to set achievement goals
for your child and set up a schedule for services. Typically, your district or your
provider will contact you to set up a meeting. While your child is receiving tutoring,
the provider is required to give you feedback about your child's progress toward
these goals. You can also provide feedback about your satisfaction with the provider
to your child's school, district, and state.
How can families use this website?
This site has a number of resources for families. We recommend visiting these pages:
NCLB in Action: A Toolkit for Parents and Community Leaders
The toolkit was developed by the Department of Education sponsored NCLB TutoringQ
Center to provide parents and community leaders with information, tips, and tools
that they can use to help families in their communities understand and use free
tutoring and other NCLB Tutoring options.
About NCLB Tutoring page for a general explanation
of free NCLB tutoring, a description of how it works, and an overview of roles and
responsibilities.
Free Tutoring by State page for state profiles
on No Child Left Behind.
You can also find out which schools are required to provide free tutoring and obtain
contact information for each state education official in charge of the free NCLB
tutoring program.
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