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:
- Is performing poorly in school
- Has been absent from school a significant number of days
- Is reading below grade level
- Fails to achieve a passing score on SOL tests
My child is having difficulty in school. Is there help my child can receive?
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. 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.
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.
If my child fails one SOL test, will the state require summer school?
No. The state will not require that your child go to summer school; however any student in grades 3-8 who achieves a passing score on one or more, but not all SOL assessments may be required to attend a remediation program. Those remedial services – including attendance in a remediation program or participation in another form of remediation – are chosen by the division as appropriate for the academic needs of the child and may include summer school.
State law requires that children who fail all of the SOL tests in grades 3-8 or who fail an end-of-course test required for a verified unit of credit must receive appropriate remedial services as determined by the division. The law also requires that school divisions develop and implement programs of prevention, intervention or remediation for children who are educationally at-risk. 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.
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, you will need to check with the school to see if there is a charge.
The 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. However, if you choose a private summer school or other private program in place of available public summer school, you are responsible for the costs.
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.