This booklet, written for parents of children entering Virginia's public elementary schools, is designed to help parents help their children during this crucial stage of education. Chapter 1, "Starting Elementary School," discusses requirements for children in kindergarten, readiness for kindergarten, preparing children to enter elementary school, children's safety, children's health, communicating with school staff, reporting children's progress to parents, and some facts about elementary schools (funding, grade arrangement, delivery of instruction, school staff, class sizes, evaluation of schools, student conduct, attendance, home education, promotion standards, student records, food services, and school fees). Chapter 2 discusses what children learn in elementary school, including advice on how parents may encourage their children to learn, and a guide to the various subject areas in the instructional program. Chapter 3 describes special programs and services: the library media program, the testing program, the guidance and counseling program, the school psychology program, the school social worker/visiting teacher program, pupil personnel or child study team, career education, health services, programs for gifted students, hospital education programs, homebound instructional services, interagency diagnostic services, remedial programs, and Chapter 1 programs. Chapter 4 discusses how parents may help their elementary school children, describing the characteristics of ages 5 through 10; discussing children's emotional needs; and providing advice on communicating with children, discipline, holding family meetings, helping children succeed in elementary school, getting help when problems arise, and dealing with mistakes. Other Virginia publications in this series are listed. (TE)