Supplemental Educational Services (SES) Provider Monitoring

The NCLB law (Title I, Section 1116(e)(4)(B)) requires states to develop and apply objective criteria for evaluating SES providers and to monitor the quality of services offered. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is the state agency given the responsibility to administer the SES program and monitor provider compliance with the federal requirements.

A sample of the organizations with contracts to provide SES tutoring will be monitored each year. Teams of DPI staff persons, along with representatives from the district whose students are being served, will participate in the monitoring visits. The selection of providers to be monitored includes consideration of the number of students enrolled, provider type (for profit, non-profit, on-line, etc.) and results of satisfaction surveys or other feedback. Providers will receive notification at least four weeks in advance of the monitoring visit. In addition to logistical information, the notification will specify the documents and information the monitoring team will need to see or discuss with the SES provider.

The monitoring visits will cover the federal requirements for SES providers and verify compliance with items included within the state application narratives and Assurances. The monitoring visits will focus on requirements related to:

• Communicating student progress to parents and the school district.
• Ensuring curriculum consistent with the curriculum of the school and district, and with state standards, as well as consistent with the curriculum described by the provider in the program application.
• Curriculum that is secular and based on proven methods and practices.
• Compliance with health, safety, and civil rights laws and regulations.
• Implementation of tutoring in accordance with the district agreements.
• Appropriate policies and procedures related to computer and internet use by online providers.

All monitoring visits will include

• a review of program documents
• on-site observations of the instruction being provided to students enrolled in the tutoring program.

Resources for SES Monitoring

Monitoring Handbook: Supplemental Educational Services Providers - This document provides information about the monitoring process, timelines, and program requirements and can be found at http://dpi.wi.gov/esea/pdf/ses_monitoring_handbook.pdf

Reporting Results

Preliminary findings will be shared with SES providers at the end of the monitoring visit. A formal written report will be sent to the provider within four weeks after monitoring is conducted. The formal report will include strengths, challenges, recommendations, and any necessary corrective action. Summary information from each report will be posted at this web site at the conclusion of each monitoring cycle. Following are links to summary information from the reports of SES providers monitored to date:

A Better Grade	March 2011
Academic Solutions of Milwaukee	January 2008
Brain Hurricane	February 2011
Catapult Online	February 2007
Club Z!	February 2011
Educate Online (formerly Catapult Online)	February 2009
Learning Exchange	March 2006
Mainstream Development Educational Group	January 2007
Mainstream Development Educational Group	February 2010
Motivating Minds	November 2007
Motivating Minds	March 2010
Non-Public Educational Services, Inc. (NESI)	April 2006
PMG Educational Services	January 2008
PMG Educational Services	March 2010
Sparkplug Education Program	March 2007
Sparkplug Education Program	May 2010
Step Ahead Tutors, Inc.	December 2006
Step Ahead Tutors, Inc.	March 2009
Tools of Empowerment Educational Services	February 2006
Tools of Empowerment Educational Services	March 2009
YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee	February 2007

For questions about this information, contact Rachael Bergstrom (608) 266-2813

Last updated on 11/8/2011 12:55:37 PM