Is My Child on Track?

Despite the hoopla that accompanies each year's release of standardized test scores, there's no single way to know whether your child is learning what he needs to be successful. To get a complete picture of what your child is learning, you need to consider a variety of measures of academic achievement, including report cards, test scores, teacher comments and samples of your child's work.

Examine Your Child's Work
One of the best ways to find out what your child is learning is to examine the schoolwork he has done. Many schools now require students at all grade levels to compile work samples into a portfolio which may contain essays, artwork, math problems, and even videos and PowerPoint presentations.

A careful look at the quality of your child's work, and the teacher's assessment of it, will tell you a great deal about the expectations the teacher and school have for academic achievement. To find out if these expectations meet those of the district and state, ask the teacher for a copy of the academic standards for your child's grade level and subject. You can find grade-level standards for grades 1 through 3 on Grade Tracker [http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/static/grade_tracker.html/va] on GreatSchools.net. (You can also find these standards on your state Department of Education's Web site.)

You will discover a lot about what your child is learning in school by talking with him. Can your child give you detailed information about what he is studying? Can he explain, for example, certain concepts the class is learning in math or science? Read out loud with your child, listening for how fluently he reads sentences and decodes unfamiliar words. Once you've finished reading, check his comprehension. Can he summarize what he's read and explain what it means in his own words?

Finally, evaluate your child's attitude toward school. If your child is excited about what he is learning in school, it's likely that he is indeed learning a lot. Be careful to distinguish between being "excited about school" and being "excited about learning." Some children love the social aspects of school but aren't engaged academically.

Use Standardized Test Results Wisely
For objective information about your child's achievement, standardized tests are a good resource. Tests that are based on state standards ("standards based" or "criterion referenced") are generally more informative than those that are based on a national comparison ("norm referenced"). Standards-based test results are usually reported in terms of whether your child meets state standards, while norm-referenced tests give you a percentile rank that shows how well your child did compared to his peers nationally.

Comparing your child's test results to his grades and teacher's comments will give you a good idea of how close the school's expectations are to those of the state. If his grades are high, but his test scores are low, the school may be using lower standards to judge whether your child is on track for his grade level.

Monitor Elementary School Progress
If your child is in elementary school, meet with the teacher at least twice a year (in the fall and spring) to discuss academic progress. In the fall, ask the teacher to go over the year-long plan so you know what the teacher expects children to master by the end of the year. How will the teacher gauge your child's progress towards these goals? If your child is falling behind, how will he let you know? Find out if the teacher has noticed any learning issues that will need to be addressed or any talents that can be encouraged. Ask for specific ideas on how you can support your child's learning at home.

You'll also want to ask the teacher about your child's social skills and work habits. Is your child able to work with other children? Does he stay on task, or does he need frequent reminders to concentrate on studies? In the spring, check to make sure your child is on track for promotion to the next grade.

Stay Involved in Middle School and High School
As students enter the middle school years of sixth, seventh and eighth grade, they increasingly need to take control of their own learning. This means organizing their assignments, seeking out help when needed and having the self-discipline to complete work thoroughly and on time. Demonstrating this kind of independence and initiative is even more important for high school students, who are but a step away from full adulthood.

It's not unusual for adolescents to discourage their parents from coming to school, but research shows that parent involvement at this level is still important to school success. Subscribing to the school's newsletter will help keep you informed and attending school events will help you get to know your child's teachers before there's a problem.

If your child is not taking initiative or is having trouble with a certain academic area, arrange to speak with the teacher. The teacher can tell you the areas in which your child needs to improve and may recommend a tutor or other ways in which your child can receive additional help. If the problem is beyond any particular subject, make arrangements to meet with a school counselor.

Many states now require that students to pass high school exit exams to earn a diploma, so be sure to monitor your child's results on any test that could prevent him from graduating. If your child is planning to attend college, you'll need to pay attention to standardized tests that are usually required for college admission, such as the SAT and ACT.

Staying involved in your teen-ager's course selections will insure that when it's time to apply for college, she will have completed the requirements. Check to see that your child is taking as many rigorous courses as possible, including those that have an Advanced Placement (AP) designation.

Additional Resources
Helping Your Child Succeed in School  [http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/succeed/index.html]
This part of the U.S. Department of Education's Web site provides tips on helping your child with schoolwork and working with teachers and schools.

Books
The following books provide tips on helping your child succeed in school:

Clark, Rosemary, Hawkins, Donna and Vachon, Beth, The School-Savvy Parent: 365 Insider Tips to Help You Help Your Child, Free Spirit Publishing,1999
In this book you'll find tips on making mornings less stressful, easing homework worries and conversation starters that actually get your child talking in detail about what he learned at school.

Rich, Dorothy, MegaSkills:How Families Can Help Children Succeed in School and Beyond, Houghton Mifflin, 1992
This book gives tips to help your child develop basic values and character strengths he needs to succeed in school.

Updated January 2006