| Going to school is all about learning the | | | | students attending campuses that have been |
| facts. It's also about gaining knowledge on | | | | categorized as "Program Improvement" for a |
| how to interpret these facts and form | | | | minimum of one school year. Under the act, |
| opinions based on them. While many students | | | | schools in program improvement for 2 years |
| excel academically, there are an equal amount | | | | more must offer these San Diego Schools |
| of those who do not. And the number of | | | | students supplemental educational services, |
| minority and low-income students in the San | | | | which include free tutoring. San Diego |
| Diego Public Schools who don't succeed is way | | | | Schools parents of students in affected |
| too high. It's important to not only identify | | | | schools received a booklet by mail detailing |
| the students who are struggling, but to get | | | | the program. More than 30 education providers |
| them the help they need to succeed in school | | | | are expected to attend. These programs are |
| without feeling discouraged or stupid. | | | | approved by the California Department of |
| Students attending San Diego Schools are | | | | Education. Live Homework Help is a free, |
| among the millions of students throughout the | | | | live, one-to-one online tutoring service |
| nation who can take advantage of free | | | | connecting students in San Diego Schools to |
| services to help them catch up in school. | | | | qualified tutors from any Internet-enabled |
| While each individual school district offers | | | | computer. English and Spanish-speaking tutors |
| a variety of programs to get students back on | | | | are available. San Diego Schools students, |
| track when they need the extra help, can | | | | parents and teachers can connect to online |
| these programs alone meet the need? Free | | | | tutors -- seven days a week any time between |
| Programs at San Diego Schools San Diego | | | | 1:00 - 10:00 pm. Students can use Live |
| Schools offer two interesting programs; tutor | | | | Homework Help whenever they need assistance. |
| provider fairs, and live, on-line homework | | | | Currently, the service is only accessible on |
| help. The homework help for students | | | | computers running Microsoft Windows. Work is |
| attending San Diego Schools is provided in | | | | underway to provide the service across other |
| conjunction with the San Diego Public | | | | computer platforms, as well as within San |
| Library, the City of San Diego, and Parents | | | | Diego Schools themselves. Of course, that |
| of students attending Program Improvement | | | | asks the question- do low-income students |
| schools in San Diego Schools have been | | | | have access to computers? To use Live |
| invited to attend one of seven tutoring | | | | Homework Help and connect with a live online |
| provider fairs scheduled in July and August. | | | | tutor, a San Diego Schools student needs |
| This is key, because reaching out to parents | | | | either a valid San Diego Public Library card |
| of struggling students is often the answer. | | | | number and Personal Identification Number |
| The service provider fairs give San Diego | | | | (PIN) or a San Diego Public Library Access |
| Schools parents the opportunity to meet and | | | | Card. |
| speak with the tutoring providers and choose | | | | |
| the one that best fits their students' needs. | | | | San Diego Public Schools Patricia Hawke is a |
| Schools That Need Help In many cases, entire | | | | staff writer for Schools K-12, providing |
| San Diego Schools are the case in need. The | | | | free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and |
| federal No Child Left Behind Act provides | | | | private K-12 schools. |
| options to parents of San Diego Schools | | | | |