SCHOOL CHOICE

School Choice under No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

Questions and Answers

1. How do students qualify for school choice? 
Title I schools that do not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for at least two years in a row come under what the Federal Government calls school improvement status. All students who are enrolled in the schools are eligible for School Choice.

2. Can a parent choose any school as a choice site?               
Under NCLB, parents must be offered a choice of at least two schools other than the child’s home school. These can include other Title I schools that have made AYP or any non-Title I school.

3. Must a parent choose to send their child(ren) to a different school?                            
No. Title I schools receive additional funding and have access to a variety of programs to help all children learn. Failure to achieve AYP does not indicate that children are not being successful at school.

4. When must a parent decide to select a different school?    
Parents whose child(ren) attend a Title I school that qualifies for school choice will be notified prior to registration .  Parents must return the selection form if they want their child(ren) to go to a different school by August 10^th, 2010.

5. If I take advantage of School Choice, will my child be eligible for free Supplemental Educational Services (SES)?
If your child participates in the School Choice program, your child will not be eligible for SES.

6. Who will provide transportation?
The District will provide transportation to eligible students, providing funding is available.

7. Will students be eligible for interscholastic activities at Choice Schools?
Students who transfer to another school, as a result of School Choice are eligible for interscholastic activities, provided the student was not recruited or transferred for athletic reasons.  However, if the student transfers back to the home school of the attendance area, he/she will be ineligible for one year.

8. How long can a student attend a Choice School?
A student may attend a Choice School until he/she she completes the highest grade in that school.

9. What if a student transfers and the original school is no longer considered in need of improvement?
Students  may continue to attend the Choice School, but the district will no longer provide transportation.

10. Will there be other times during the year when a parent can choose to move a child?
Under NCLB Choice, there will only be one opportunity per year. Parents can always apply for a reassignment. However, there are no guarantees that it will be granted.

To learn more Public School Choice, contact the principal at your child’s school or visit these government websites:

U.S. Department of Education www.ed.gov

 No Child Left Behind www.nochildleftbehind.gov 

                 Improvement Status

Newly Identified- NI

Continuing School Improvement- CSI

Corretive Action- CA

Planning to Resructure- RP

Restructuring- R