On this page:
- What does SES mean for families?
- How do I know whether my child is eligible?
- What does it mean to say that a school is in “needs improvement status”?
- How can I find out about SES provider options for my child?
- What are my options if my child is not eligible for SES?
- What questions should I ask providers?
- What kind of information should I expect to receive from my district about SES?
- Once I select a provider, what happens?
- How can families use this website?
SES for Families
This page offers information about supplemental educational services (SES) for parents and families. It also offers tips on how to use this website.
What does SES mean for families?
The SES program gives low-income families the opportunity to choose free tutoring services for their children. The program offers families a chance to get their children the extra academic help and individual instruction they need.
How do I know whether my child is eligible?
Your school district is required to notify you if your child is eligible for SES. Generally, your child is eligible for SES if he or she:
- Receives free or reduced-price lunch and
- Attends a Title I school that has not made adequate yearly progress (AYP) for three years (in its second year of “school 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 three years must offer SES to students. States must publish these lists of schools.
If you have not heard from your district, find out whether your child is eligible by contacting:
- Your school or district. The school principal, other staff in your school, or your district Title I director will be able to help. The district phone number is usually listed in the blue pages of the local telephone directory.
- Your local Parent Information and Resource Center. Find it at http://www.pirc-info.net/pircs.asp.
- Your state. Visit our SES by State page, select your state, and contact the SES coordinator for your state.
- The U.S. Department of Education. Call them toll-free at 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327).
- 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 SES 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 SES, 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. http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oii/about/choice.html
How can I find out about SES provider options for my child?
Each state develops a list of potential SES 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.
- Colleges or universities.
- National organizations.
- Faith-based groups.
- 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 SES, ask your school district. The distrcit must inform you about this service and provide information about state-approved SES providers in your area. If you need help in selecting a provider, ask your district for assistance.
You can find a list of approved SES providers in your state by visiting our SES by State page. Select your state and click “Approved SES Provider List” in your state profile.
You can also find information about SES providers in your area by contacting your school or district, a local community group, your local Parent Information and Resource Center (http://www.pirc-info.net/pircs.asp), 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 SES?
If your child is not eligible for SES, he or she may still be able to get free or low-cost tutoring through your community, a local university or local service agencies.
Here are some suggestions:
- Local colleges and/or universities may offer tutoring programs in local school districts.
- 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 (http://www.pirc-info.net/pircs.asp).
What kind of information should I expect to receive from my district about SES?
Your school district must inform you if your child qualifies for SES and give you a list of SES 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.
- 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 houses” 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 SES providers. Visit our SES by State page for a link to your state SES website.
If you do not get the information you need about SES providers, contact the following:
- Your local Parent Information and Resource Center. Find it at http://www.pirc-info.net/pircs.asp.
- Your state. Visit our SES by State page, select your state, and contact the SES coordinator for your state.
- The U.S. Department of Education. Call toll-free at 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327).
- A local community group. Your place of worship, community center, parent organization, or other local group may also be able to help.
What questions should I ask providers?
Click here for a list of questions to ask when comparing SES 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:
- SES in Action: A Toolkit for Parents and Community Leaders
The SESQ Center developed this Toolkit to provide parents and community leaders with information, tips, and tools that they can use to help families in their communities understand and use SES options. - SES: The Basics page for a general explanation of SES, a description of how it works, and an overview of roles and responsibilities for SES.
- SES by State page for state profiles on SES, including provider application due dates, links to each state’s provider application, and links to lists of currently approved providers. You can also find out which schools are required to provide SES and obtain contact information for each state education official in charge of SES.
- Resources page for links to research, tools, and other organizations working on SES.