When My Child Needs Additional Help, What Do I Need To Know?

A Parent’s Guide to Additional Services

How do I know if my child needs additional help in school?

Your child’s school uses a variety of methods to determine if your child needs additional help. Your child may need additional help if he or she:

• Scores low on the Virginia State Assessment Program Tests;
• Does not pass the Literacy Passport Test;
• Fails to achieve a passing score on any SOL tests in grades three, five, eight or any end-of-course test in high school;
• Is performing poorly in school;
• Has been absent from school a significant number of days; or
• Is reading below grade level.

For additional information on the different testing programs required by the state, use this link: Information on Testing in Virginia’s Public Schools.

My child is having difficulty in school. Is there help my child can receive?

Yes. Schools usually offer a variety of programs to assist children that are having difficulty in school. The programs offered might vary depending on your child’s grade, the type of problem your child is having, and the services offered by the school.

Some programs available to your child may include help with homework, summer school, and assistance during the regular school day or after school. There is a new program to help children who need additional assistance based on their performance on the SOL tests. It provides additional instructional time each week.

Your child’s teacher or principal can give you more information about the programs offered by your school division that will meet the needs of your child.

How do I enroll my child in summer school?

Almost every public school division in Virginia offers summer school. In addition, many private schools offer summer school programs. You should check with your child’s teacher or principal about what summer school services are offered by your public school and how to make arrangements for your child to attend.

I heard that the state is requiring that the public schools make those children who fail the SOL tests go to summer school. My child failed one of the SOL tests by one point. Will the state require that my child go to summer school?

No. The state will not require that your child go to summer school. State law requires that only those children who fail all of the SOL tests in grades three, five, and eight must receive remedial services. Those remedial services are chosen by the division, as appropriate for the academic needs of the child and may include summer school.

The law also requires that school divisions develop and implement programs of prevention, intervention, or remediation for children who are educationally at-risk. Examples of when a child would be considered educationally at-risk include: a child who scores in the bottom 25th percent on the Virginia State Assessment Program Tests; a child who does not pass the Literacy Passport Test; or a child who fails to achieve a passing score on any of the SOL tests in grades three, five, and eight. The school division decides which type of program is appropriate for the child, and it may be summer school. This requirement does not direct that all children must receive the same length or concentration of services, or type of prevention, intervention, or remediation program.

Generally, parents should contact their child’s teacher or principal to discuss what their child’s needs are and what type of service would be appropriate. In this instance, you should contact your public school to find out what services it is providing to children who fail only one of the SOL tests.

Is there a cost for my child to attend public summer school?

It depends. If your child has been identified by your school division as needing to go to summer school or to participate in another form of remediation, there would not be a charge for either the public summer school or the remediation program.

If, however, you are interested in having your child attend a summer school program to “get ahead” or for enrichment purposes, there may be a charge. Your child’s teacher or principal can help you determine what costs, if any, may be associated with attendance in public summer school.

My school has notified me that my child needs to attend summer school. Do I have to send my child to public summer school?

No. There may be an alternative to your child attending summer school, as long as the program you choose is conducted by an accredited private school or is a program that is considered by the division superintendent to be comparable to the public school program.

If my child is required to attend summer school, and I choose to send my child to a private summer school, who pays for it?

If you choose a private summer school or other private program, you are responsible for the costs of sending your child to the private school program.

Must I send my child to summer school if the school recommends it?

Before you make a decision about whether or not to send your child to summer school, you should meet with your child's teacher or the principal to discuss why they are recommending summer school and why other options may not be appropriate for your child. The discussion you have may help you in making your decision about whether or not to send your child to summer school.