Parents/Guardians Guide
School Improvement & Supplemental Educational Services in Title I, Part A Programs
Your childs school receives funding through the federal
Title I, Part A Program. These funds help to expand our
basic educational programs with services and interventions that support struggling learners. Title I, Part A is one of many
programs governed by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act or ESEA.
ESEA sets a standard for state, district and school accountability, and directs public schools that receive Title I, Part funds
to reach 100% proficiency: all students reach state academic standards in math and reading. Under ESEA, schools, whose
students have taken the state assessments and have not met these standardstwo years in a rowmust begin a program
of improvement in the next school year. 100% means just that. Even if one student does not reach standard in either math or
reading, the school must enter improvement. There are five steps to a school improvement program.
Stay in Touch with Your School & District
Schools and districts apply the regulations around school improvement in ways that address the unique challenges and
opportunities of student demographics and locality. This is why you
should stay in close contact with your childrens school.
Make sure you are clear on your options, specifically those around
Public School Choice and Supplemental Educational Services. We
explain Public School Choice in a companion brochure Parents
Guide Public School Choice & School Improvement.
School Improvement & Supplemental Educational Services
(SES)
Schools in improvement must meet specific requirements for
communication with parents and guardians, and offer programs and
services that support students who struggle to reach standard on state
tests in math and reading. Your childs school is now in a Step of improvement that calls for Supplemental Educational
Services or SES. This means that the district must offer extra teaching and learning opportunitiesSupplemental
Educational Servicesdesigned to increase academic achievement.
The tutoring services available through SES focus on reading, language arts and math. This important remedial help takes
place before or after school, or on weekends. Be aware that parents must provide transportation to-and-from the SES
providers location.
Eligible Students
When a school enters improvement, SES becomes available in Steps 2 through 5. The law directs districts to offer SES as
an option for those students whose families qualify as low income and whose test results show the most need for extra
academic help.
SES Providers
Many different kinds of organizations apply to become providers of Supplemental Educational Services: public and private
schools, public and private colleges and universities, and organizations that operate for-profit, not-for-profit and as faithbased. Organizations that provide online learning also apply to become providers of SES. Approval is for one year only.
SES providers must re-apply annually. OSPI publishes the list online, [Link]
Potential providers submit their application to OSPI. Our state has established rigorous criteria for approval that makes
sure the people who tutor your child can help their academic performance.
1. Providers must use instructional methods demonstrated over time and through research to improve academic performance.
2. Providers must have an established track record for raising student test scores.
3. Providers must align their curricula to state standards.
4. Providers must offer learning activities consistent with district and school educational programs.
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Parents/Guardians Guide
School Improvement & Supplemental Educational Services in Title I, Part A Programs
Parents/Guardians Choose an SES Provider
You know your child best. This is why the law allows parents and guardians to select the provider they feel will help their
student improve in math or reading or both.
Get Involved. Talk to School Staff & Potential SES Providers
Feel free to talk with your childs teacher and school administrators about Supplemental Educational Services. Dont
hesitate to speak directly with potential SES providers.
Ask these questions of the SES provider before you make your selection.
How will you meet the academic needs of my child?
What are the qualifications of your tutors?
How will you group my child during tutoring sessions?
How will you measure my childs progress?
When and where do you deliver these services?
How often, and for how long, will my child receive SES?
Stay Involved
Once you have selected a provider, stay involvedmonitor your childs progress and keep asking questions. Expect to
receive regular reports from the SES provider that explain clearly how your child is progressing.
Expect These Notifications from Your School District
If your household qualifies as low income, the district must send you informationoften called notificationsabout
supplemental education services. These notifications must be in a format you can read easily and in a language you can
understand. Heres the basic information you need.
List of state-approved SES providers that operate within the districts boundaries, or provide an online learning
program
Services and qualifications of each provider
Process you must follow to select an SES provider and the deadline for selection
Contact names and details so you can ask questions or get more information
These notifications must be clear and concise. You should be able to distinguish them clearly from other information the
school or districts sends home that talks about school improvement. If you dont receive this information, contact your
school or district.
Report Card for Every Student
You have a right to know how well your child is progressing. Schools that operate Title I, Part A programs must generate
a report card for every student that explains how well that student scored on the state assessment in, at least, reading,
English language arts and mathematics.
State Report Card
The Office of Superintendent of Public InstructionWashingtons education agencypublishes a State Report Card
online, [Link] Use this website to find important information
about your school and district, such as the results of state testing, enrollment numbers, facts and figures about the teachers
in your school and much more.
Ask Us About School Improvement & SES in Title I, Part A Programs
Title I, Part A Office at OSPI, 360-725-6100, online at [Link]
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Old Capitol Building, PO Box 47200
Olympia, WA 98504-7200
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U.S. Department of Education: 1-800-USA-LEARN (872-5327)
