Getting a new school year off to a good start can influence children’s attitude, confidence, and performance both socially and academically. This handout provides parents with tips for what to do before summer ends and the first week of school. It also includes tips for overcoming anxiety, extracurricular activities, and what to do when problems arise. 

This NASP article provides information about what retention is, the effects of grade retention as found by research, alternative strategies to grade retention, and what parents can do to help. 

This NASP handout provides parents with a background on homework in the United States, reasonable homework expectations, and key messages about homework that parents can provide their children. 

This article answers the following questions regarding special education: 

1. What do I do if I have a concern about my child's progress?

2. How do I ask for special help?

3. What do I do if interventions don't seem to work?

4. What happens during the evaluation?

5. What happens after the evaluation is completed?

6. What happens after the child is determined to be a child with a disability?

7. What if I don't agree with the proposed IEP?

8. What does special education involve?

9. Why does the special education eligibility determination take so long?

10. How can I learn the language of special education?