Home > I Need Help > Self-Help > Education > Promotion >

What should I do if my child is being held back?


Talk it over with your child's teacher

Make an appointment with your child's teacher. The Department of Education recommends that you discuss the following with your child's teacher:

  • How well is my child doing in meeting the standards (standards describe what students should be able to do in class)?
  • What are my child's strengths and weaknesses in reading, writing, and math?
  • What support services are available for children currently below grade level?
  • How can my child get help at school?
  • How can I help my child with homework at home?

Back to top


Consider appealing the decision

If have been told that your child will be held back, you may wish to take advantage of a process known as 'parent appeals':

  • If your child is in the Fourth Grade, Sixth Grade, or Eighth Grade. For these grades, you may appeal the decision to hold your child back to the school's principal.
    • In order to do so you must submit a written letter to the principal within 3 school days of the mailed notification of the decision.
    • Within two days of receiving your letter, the principal must make a recommendation to the LIS Superintendent, who makes the final decision.
  • If your child is in the Third Grade, Fifth Grade, or Seventh Grade. For these grades, you may appeal the decision to the school's principal. That being said, the decision is not made until August, so that your child may retake standardized tests. Ultimately, this appeals process blends into the August Review Process.' To learn more about that process, click here if your child is in Third Grade, here if your child is in Fifth Grade, or here if your child is in Seventh Grade.

Back to top


Consider supplementing your child's education

The following programs may be available at the school to help your child. This list does not describe every program that is available, and each school may have different programs.

  • Intervention teams made up of teachers and administrators to provide the students with individual support and monitoring.
  • Enrollment in Voyager Passport, a citywide reading intervention program.
  • Reading and math development programs, such as Great Leaps, Soar to Success, Kaplan, and the Princeton Review.
  • Reading and math coaches based in schools.
  • Combining regular class work with test taking strategies to build student confidence.
  • Saturday Preparatory Academy for fifth-graders and seventh-graders whose promotions are in doubt.
  • Summer Success Academy
  • Students who fail to meet high school graduation requirements may take advantage of Young Adult Borough Centers, as well as receive continued instruction in day, evening, and summer school until they are 21.

Back to top


What is the Saturday Preparatory Academy?

The program involves the following:

  • 24 Saturday or holiday sessions starting in October.
  • Expert elementary and middle school specialty teachers who respond to a vacancy posting will be selected by their Regional Superintendents, the Local Instructional Superintendents (LISs), or Regional Instructional Superintendents (RISs) for demonstrating proven results in improving the academic performance of struggling students.
    • The Local Instructional Superintendent (LIS) is directly responsible for overseeing 10-12 schools and principals and providing instructional support for new programs. The LIS focuses on the instructional agenda of the school. The principals report directly to the LIS.
    • The Regional Instructional Specialist (RIS) works with the LISs and the Regional Superintendents on the instructional issues at a more global level (as opposed to working on more school-specific issues like the LISs).
  • Math Coaches and RISs will provide ongoing professional development to Saturday Prep teachers.
  • Instruction will be aligned to the core curriculum and state standards and targeted to address the needs of struggling students.
  • Cluster school parent coordinators will conduct parent outreach to inform parent activities throughout the course of the program. Parents will be involved during the wrap around section of Saturday Prep through parent workshops on technology, arts, and how to support their children at home.

As established by the Summer Success Academy, Saturday Prep will partner with the Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to provide wrap around service to students, parents, or their care givers. These services will include enrichment, the arts, parent and student workshops, sports, and other opportunities to strengthen student social, emotional, and intellectual growth.

Back to top