Middle-school students who are struggling with math will soon get extra help.

In July, a new state law kicks in that will require public schools to provide “mathematics remediation and intervention to students in grades six through eight who show computational deficiencies.”

House Bill 1350, part of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s education agenda, won overwhelming approval from the General Assembly this year. The bill was introduced by Del. David Albo (R-Fairfax), with support from Dels. Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church) and Bob Marshall (R-Manassas). McDonnell signed HB 1350 into law on April 3. It takes effect July 1.

The new law will require school divisions to help middle-school students who do poorly on “any diagnostic or grade-level Standards of Learning mathematics test that measures non-calculator computational skills.”

The law will help teachers target students’ weaknesses in math and provide individualized instruction.

“Students who are having difficulty in mathematics in middle school are at risk of not being prepared for Algebra I and other high school-level mathematics courses they must pass to earn a diploma,” said Charles Pyle, director of communications for the Virginia Department of Education.

Middle school students with failing scores on the math section of Standards of Learning test cannot be placed in Algebra I when they begin high school.