Elementary and Secondary Education Act (formerly No Child Left Behind)
School Choice Options
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Under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB/ESEA) and Indiana Public Law 221 (PL 221), schools are held accountable for their yearly progress (AYP). If a school has not met AYP for at least two consecutive years, it is designated as “in need of improvement.” Children in Title I schools that are in need of improvement may be eligible to exercise school choice options or obtain other services.
To find a list of Indiana schools that have been designated as “in need of improvement,” visit the Indiana Department of Education’s website at: http://www.doe.in.gov/TitleI/pdf/
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Public School Choice:
Students who attend Title I - funded schools in the first year of improvement may be eligible for a transfer to another public or charter school that is making Adequate Yearly Progress and is within their district. Students may transfer only if there are openings at the desired school. When space is limited, priority will be given to low income, low achieving students.
Students attending schools that are considered “persistently dangerous” are eligible to transfer. A “persistently dangerous school” is one in which, for 3 consecutive years, more than 2% of the student body has been expelled for a violent crime (as defined by IC-5-2-6.1-8), possessing a firearm, deadly weapon, or destructive device. Victims of violent crimes that occur on school grounds are eligible for a transfer regardless of the school’s safety designation. *Before the academic term begins, the school should inform the parents of eligible students that they may apply for a transfer. Parents should seek information from school administrators regarding their options. Supplemental Services (tutoring): Title I schools that fail to make Adequate Yearly Progress for 2 consecutive years will offer “supplemental services,” or tutoring. There is no cost to parents of eligible students for the extra help, schools may not hire their own staff to be a supplemental service provider (although schools can become certified to be supplemental service providers), and parents can choose the supplemental service provider in their area from among the state approved list. This list can be found on the Indiana Department of Education’s website: http://mustang.doe.in.gov/dg/ses/provider-list.cfm.
Private Schools:
Students who wish to attend a private school do not receive federal funds for that purpose. However, many private schools offer financial aid or scholarships. Parents should check with the administration of the private school to find out what programs are offered and to obtain the required paperwork. *Indiana does not offer state or federally funded vouchers for students to use toward tuition at private schools, nor does Indiana provide tax credits related to educational expenses for students enrolled in a K-12 school.
Charter Schools:
Charter schools cannot charge tuition and have open enrollment policies. Students of Title I - funded public schools who are eligible for a transfer may opt to transfer to a charter school. There are more than 30 charter schools in Indiana. Interested parents are encouraged to contact individual charter schools for more information. A list of each school and its contact information, including website, can be found at: http://www.doe.state.in.us/charterschools/0708CharterSchoolList.htm.
Staying Put for School Improvement:
Relationships are an important part of learning. Because of this, some parents of students who are eligible to transfer have chosen to work with the school to support academic improvement by joining their school’s decision-making team. The Team addresses the school’s Improvement Plan (required of every Indiana school), which identifies the school’s priorities, sets goals for improvement, and outlines who and what is needed to meet those goals. Parents have a right to provide input on improvement plans and serve on school improvement teams.
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