Public School Choice

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires that students in Title 1 Needs Improvement schools be allowed to transfer to a higher performing school within the same district. A school is identified as needing improvement if it fails to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for 2 or more consecutive years. The Georgia Department of Education publishes the list of Needs Improvement schools during the summer. School districts must notify parents and students of their option to transfer by the first day of the school year.

How do parents know if a school must provide public school choice?
Under NCLB, school districts must notify parents and students of their option to transfer to a higher performing school by the first day of the school year in which the school is identified as needing improvement. The 2003 Title 1 Report of Adequate Yearly Progress can also be used to determine which schools must offer choice. The report is ordered by school system, then school. If the FY03 Corrective Action column’s value is “Choice”, "Choice&SES", “Yes” or "Delayed", the school must offer public school choice.

Does the school district provide transportation to the higher performing school?
The district must pay for the transportation for students who transfer to a higher performing school. The district can provide transportation or choose to reimburse parents for their transportation costs.

What if there isn't an eligible transfer school in my district?
If there is only one school in the district, or all the schools are on the Needs Improvement list, districts are encouraged to enter into cooperative agreements with other districts to provide transfer options for students. NCLB requires that a district try "to the extent possible" to establish such agreements.

Will my student continue to receive special services (special education, gifted, English-to-Speakers-of-Other-Languages (ESOL), etc) at the higher performing school?
Parents should research the schools on the transfer list to make an informed decision about the best alternative for their student. Districts may choose to centralize special services at selected schools, so it is important to find out what services will be available for your student at transfer schools. Contact information for schools can be found on GeorgiaEducation.org. Access "School Performance" from the main menu to view reports on schools. Under "School Reports", select the Profile report for a specific school to find contact information - address, phone, and website.

Where can I find more information about the higher performing schools on the transfer list?
At GeorgiaEducation.org, access "School Performance" from the main menu to view 3 different reports on schools. The Profile report shows the school's demographic and enrollment figures. The Test Scores report shows the three year trend on state assessments, and compares the school with the school district and state. The Similar Schools report compares the school with demographically similar schools. The Office of Student Achievement (formerly the Office of Education Accountability) has report cards showing assessment information, and the Georgia Department of Education has report cards showing assessment data, enrollment information, teacher qualifications, and school finances.

The latest data available on these report cards is for the 2001-2002 school year. The 2003 Title 1 Report of Adequate Yearly Progress is based on data from the 2002-2003 school year; however, the report cards for that year are not available yet.

Are there other things to consider when researching transfer options?
Many qualities that make a school successful are difficult to quantify. Are students engaged in learning? Does the school frequently communicate with parents? Does the school have a school improvement plan, and if so, what are the school's goals? The articles listed under Additional Resources provide more factors to consider. Parents may also find it helpful to network with other parents at the school and ask about their experiences.

Additional Resources

Beyond Test Scores, How Can Parents Judge the Quality of Their Schools? Ron Dietel, National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards and Student Testing

Is Your School Effective? National PTA

Questions Community and Parent Leaders Should Ask About School Choice, Using NCLB to Improve Student Achievement - An Action Guide for Community and Parent Leaders, p. 48, Public Education Network. Note: A copy of the Guide may be ordered online for $10 or downloaded in PDF format for free.

No Child Left Behind and Public School Choice, Georgia Department of Education

Questions and Answers on NCLB- Choice and Supplemental Educational Services, US Department of Education

Choice Provisions in NCLB, US Department of Education