Summer school remediation - Got letter. My child has not taken SOL yet and is not failing school. Thoughts?

[ChristineVA]

My kids' private schools did not do the SOLs; however, they did do Terra Nova testing up through middle school. It was very low-level though, no pressure, took maybe one morning of the school day.

[tgbwc]

OP:

Is it possible your child was recommended for summer school because the school "needs the numbers"? By this, I mean they need a certain number of children to attend their summer school program to have the program.

I teach in an FCPS elementary school. The past few years the system has paid for a summer school program that lasts 3 weeks. We haven't invited any students yet (ours will go out after SOL testing), but we are asked to recommend students base upon certain criteria. The letters go out and a good number of families don't accept. They then go to the 2nd tier of students who are not in as much need for summer school. They do this until they get enough families accepting and they fill their spots. From experience I know that we end up inviting students who initially weren't in the summer school pool and of course we field justified questions from concerned parents who received an email about summer school even though their children were not doing badly during the school year.

[Oldhag1]

The fact that they are recommending summer school prior to testing is a reason to be concerned and meet with the teacher. By that, I don't mean the teacher is doing something wrong or that your child shouldn't attend summer school, but that they are obviously concerned about something with your child's academics - and they are concerned about something that is beyond testing. This should not be a surprise to you, and if it is, the teacher should have talked to you earlier about your child's academic performance. You have said you think they are asking too much for 3rd graders, is that because your child is struggling doing the work?

[CaliTerp07]

Also remember that just because your child was "invited", you have every right to opt out if you do not believe your child would benefit from the extra help.