Frequently Asked Questions

What are Supplemental Educational Services (SES)?
How does a student qualify for SES services?
How do I know if a student qualifies for free or reduced-priced lunch?
How are families notified about SES?
What does a family have to do to get SES services?
When are the SES enrollment periods?
Who provides SES?
What kind of SES services do they provide?
How long can a student get services?
Where are the services provided?
Is transportation provided?
Who pays for SES?
How may a classroom teacher, or other HOPE staff share information about SES provider/tutor?

What are Supplemental Educational Services (SES)?
Supplemental Educational Services (SES) are free tutoring services that must be offered to low-income children who attend a Title I school that fails to make adequate yearly progress for three years. Low-income students are generally those who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. These services offer students extra help in academic subjects such as reading, language arts, and mathematics. SES services are provided outside the regular school day – before or after school or on weekends. The purpose of SES is to improve students’ proficiency on standardized state assessments in reading, math, and English proficiency. For more information on SES, please see http://www.ed.gov/nclb/choice/help/ses/index.html.
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How does a student qualify for SES services?
In order to be eligible for SES, a student must attend a Title I school that is in Stage 2 or higher of Needs Improvement and have a current, approved application for free or reduced-price meals on file with HOPE Community Academy.

*NOTE: If the funds available are insufficient to provide SES to each eligible student whose parent requests those services, HOPE Community Academy must give priority to the lowest-achieving eligible students. HOPE Community Academy will focus services on the lowest-achieving eligible students in both Reading and Math for students in grades 4-8.
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How do I know if a student qualifies for free or reduced-priced lunch?
Each school year, there are new income guidelines in order for a family to qualify. Families must submit an application each school year to qualify for free/reduced price lunch. For more information, you may contact the school office at 651-796-4500.
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How are families notified about SES?
HOPE Community Academy families are notified about SES in the following ways:

• Mailings to SES eligible families in September and December
• HOPE’s website http://www.hope-school.org
• SES Parent Informational Meetings
• Community Partners to help spread the word about SES
• SES Provider mailings made directly to families
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What does a family have to do to get SES services?
Parents are encouraged to apply by:

• Completing the SES Enrollment Form
• Downloading the enrollment form from the HOPE’s website, complete and return to school
• Talking to the Director, or the Parent Liaison, to get a form

All forms should be mailed to HOPE Community Academy, 720 Payne Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55130.

A parent/guardian must approve in writing of a student’s enrollment in SES. To get an enrollment form at any time, a parent/guardian may call 651-796-4500, or download an enrollment form at www.hope-school.org.
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When are the SES enrollment periods?
The enrollment is throughout the 2010-2011 school year.
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Who provides SES?
There are 6 SES providers servicing HOPE Community Academy students for the 2010-2011 year. Each of these SES providers has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Education. If you are helping a student enroll, please be sure to list the family’s top 3 choices on the enrollment form.

It is important to note that SES services must not be provided during the school day. They are in addition to a student’s regular school time.
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What kind of SES services do they provide?
Students may receive services in reading, math, or both.
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How long can a student get services?
Students may receive services throughout the school year depending on the hourly rate set by the provider and how frequently the student receives tutoring. Each student is given a per pupil funding unit (PPFU). For the 2010-11 school year, the PPFU for SES is $2,239.56. To calculate the maximum number of hours of service a student can receive you simply divide the PPFU by the SES Provider’s hourly rate.
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Where are the services provided?
Each provider chooses how they will provide their services.
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Is transportation provided?
HOPE Community Academy does not pay for students’ transportation costs. SES Providers or parents must arrange this. Students should not be placed on a bus that is not their normal bus in order to attend SES.
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Who pays for SES?
SES providers are paid to provide their services by HOPE Community Academy using Title I funding.
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How may a classroom teacher, or other HOPE staff share information about SES provider/tutor?
HOPE teachers should certainly share information about providers with eligible families, but are not allowed to solicit families to receive services from a particular provider. HOPE staff are expected to be impartial about service providers and not allowed to show provider bias. Any HOPE staff who provides SES services through a provider is expected to sign a Conflict of Interest form, acknowledging their understanding of these rules.

Please contact Maychy Vu with questions or concerns regarding the HOPE Community Academy SES Program:

Maychy Vu Director
720 Payne Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55130
651-796-4589
maychyvu@hope-school.org.
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