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No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is a sweeping, landmark educational reform that was passed into law in 2001. There are numerous components to the NCLB act. One that Ultimate Success Learning Program is involved with is Supplemental Educational Services (SES).

The supplemental services of NCLB provide low-income students in struggling schools with the opportunity to obtain tutoring services at no cost to parents. Importantly, NCLB grants parents the right to choose a supplemental services provider for their child. Parents may choose providers from a list approved by their state and made available by their school district.


Ultimate Success Learning Program would like to help parents better understand their choices and their rights regarding supplemental educational services (SES). Following are some of the most frequently asked questions we received from parents.

What are supplemental educational services?
Supplemental educational services are additional academic instruction designed to increase the academic achievement of students who attend schools in need of improvement. The purpose of SES is to give eligible students the opportunity to increase their academic achievement, particularly in reading/language arts and mathematics.

Who is eligible to receive supplemental educational services?
All students from low-income families who are attending Title 1 schools that have not made adequate yearly progress for two or more years are eligible to receive these services.

How do parents know when a school is eligible?
Your school district should provide annual notification to parents in an understandable and uniform format and in as many languages as is appropriate and practicable. Such notice must inform parents of (1) the availability of supplemental educational services; (2) the providers able to service the geographical area; and (3) a description of the services, qualifications and demonstrated effectiveness of each provider. If you have questions about eligibility, contact your district office.

How do parents enroll students in SES programs?
Schools, school district offices and the providers themselves have enrollment forms that they mail to all eligible studentsí homes. You can also call any of these entities to request an enrollment form.

Are there accommodations when English is a second language?
Yes, School districts must ensure that eligible students with limited English proficiency are able to participate in SES. Assistance is provided in languages such as Spanish, Chinese, and others.

How do parents choose an SES provider?
Parents of eligible students choose a provider from the State-approved list which can be requested from your school district or your childís school. Parents may want to consider: when and where the provider offers service; How often and for how long students will be served; How students are grouped during tutoring; whether the provider can meet the academic needs of their child; the qualifications of the tutors; and how student progress will be measured, among other issues.
 
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"Rising Grades - But Falling Test Scores"

Recent news reports have confirmed what many parents have feared.  A disparity exists between students' academic grades and standardized test scores.  This situation is not new.  Educational Testing Services created the SAT Reasoning Test in 1927 in response to this very dilemma.  Two students at schools with curriculum that vary drastically in terms of difficulty can have identical grade point averages.  College Administrations need a reliable tool that indicates true academic ability.  For decades, colleges and universities have relied upon the SAT as that tool. 

College-bound students must take the SAT or ACT in their junior or senior year of high school.  Many colleges accept both test scores; students must check the admissions page of the college to which they are applying to verify which test is required.  Generally, the SAT is the preferred test by schools on the coasts, and the ACT is more often used by schools in the Midwest.  At this time, Knowledge Without Boundaries offers courses in SAT preparation.

Approximately 2.3 million students take the SAT each year; approximately 650 students achieve a perfect score of 2400.  With the proliferation of SAT prep books and prep courses, competition is fierce.  Sometimes a score of 2100 will not guarantee acceptance to the nation's top schools; but, a score of 2100 will propel a student to the top of the application pile.

If the SAT is your choice for college applications, some quick facts are listed below to acquaint you with the preparation challenge that lies ahead.

  • * The SAT is a test of reasoning, a higher level thinking skill.
  • * The SAT focuses on critical reading, grammar, essay writing and mathematics.
  • * The average SAT score in 2006 was 1518:
  • 503 -- Critical Reading, 497 -- Writing, and 518 -- Math
  • * Less than 1% of students scored a 12 (the highest score) on the essay section in 2005.
  • * The top 25 ranking colleges and universities prefer students with SAT scores of 2000 and higher.

Through preparation for the SAT, students will acquire test-taking strategies and a sound academic foundation that will help them succeed on other standardized tests.  Students will also master cognitive reasoning skills that will greatly enhance the quality of their school assignments and increase their readiness for college-level courses.
 
Welcome to Knowledge Without Boundaries'
College Corner!

c2In order to have the most competitive college application, you must strive to know more about our world, you must act upon your curiosity, and you must be the difference in our world!  Families, friends and fellow educators have fervently supported the KWB mission since we began working with Houston students in 2007.  We frequently receive alerts about scholarships, contests, internships, programs, volunteer opportunities, and the college admissions process.  This section of our website is devoted to passing that information on to  you!
Please take advantage of the information posted here or pass the word on to someone else who could use it.



Thanks!

Kimberley

Enhancing the Application

Scholarship Alerts

DEADLINE MAY 27th

 

P.S. Even more information can be found on a KWB partner's site, www.theclic.net. Visit the site and sign up today!
 


On Jan. 8, 2002, President Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). This new law represents his education reform plan and contains the most sweeping changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) since it was enacted in 1965.

It changes the federal government's role in kindergarten-through-grade-12 education by asking America's schools to describe their success in terms of what each student accomplishes.

The act contains the President's four basic education reform principles: stronger accountability for results, increased flexibility and local control, expanded options for parents, and an emphasis on teaching methods that have been proven to work.