FILE:  JBCE

 

PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE

 

 

The St. Martin Parish School Board is required by both Federal law and the Louisiana School Accountability Program to develop and maintain a Public School Choice policy for any school with a School Performance Score (SPS) below levels set by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and considered in School Improvement Level II or higher.  Additionally, those Title I schools that have failed the subgroup component of the state’s accountability system for one year or are in School Improvement II or higher shall also be a part of a School Choice program.  School Choice allows eligible students to transfer to an academically acceptable school.  Subgroup component refers to the testing performance within a specified subgroup of students.

 

Once schools eligible to receive students have been identified, a school-site utilization study shall be conducted as needed in all schools to determine the extent to which capacity exists to possibly accommodate students from schools offering choice, including students with special needs and/or students with disabilities.  Only those schools that are labeled academically acceptable shall be considered eligible to receive students.

 

The Superintendent and staff shall be responsible for developing and managing a School Choice Plan, which shall determine the schools to which students may transfer, which students shall have priority in transferring, and all other regulations and procedures for supervising school choice within the school district.

 

NOTIFICATION

 

Notification of parents of their school choice options shall be sent as early as possible, but not later than the first day of the school year for the schools that are required to offer choice.  If there are no choice options available, this information shall be included in the notification sent parents.

 

ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS

 

All students in a school required to offer choice shall be eligible to transfer.  However, the School Board shall give priority to the lowest achieving students from low-income families, as determined by the School Board.

 

SCHOOL CHOICE ASSIGNMENT OF SCHOOLS

 

In accordance with No Child Left Behind regulations, St. Martin Parish students attending a district school which has been identified as a School Improvement Level 1 site shall be provided the opportunity to transfer to a higher performing public school designated by the school district.

 

  1. The district assures that all qualifying students in choice schools will be provided the option to move to a higher performing school utilizing the following measures at each choice school.  The district assures that low income, low performing students will be given first priority in the selection process.  In case of a tie, transfers will be awarded by a random lottery.

 

    1. Parents in schools that have been identified as schools in need of improvement will be notified by letter of the opportunity to transfer their child to a higher achieving school in the district.  The letter will explain the criteria that identified this school as a choice school, what the choice school is doing to address the problem of low achievement, and how the parents can become involved in addressing the academic issues that caused the school to be identified for school improvement.
       

    2. Parents of students in choice schools will be notified of the higher achieving schools available for transfer.
       

    3. Low-income, students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, low-achieving students will be given first priority in the selection process. In case of a tie, transfers will be awarded by a random lottery.
       

    4. Parents will have a ten (10) working day deadline to declare the school choice by making formal application at the district Director of Curriculum's Office.
       

    5. The district Director of Curriculum will notify parents, sending school, and accepting school of the approved transfer within five (5) working days.
       

    6. The Director of Operations and Maintenance will assist parents in securing transportation.

 

  1. When district-funded transportation schedules meet the transportation needs of school choice students, students will be assigned accordingly. The School Board ensures that an amount equivalent to at least five percent (5%) of Title I Part A will be used to supplement school choice, if necessary.
     

  2. Implementation of Public School Choice

 

    1. Upon notification from the Louisiana Department of Education, the district will identify schools required to offer choice.
       

    2. Within seven (7) working days of Department’s notification, letters will be mailed to parents of student enrolled in choice schools notifying them of the option to transfer their child to a higher performing school.  Parents will be given a list of schools from which to choose.
       

    3. Parents of students in choice schools will have a ten (10) working day application period.
       

    4. Within five (5) working days from the deadline of the application period, the district will inform parents of acceptance.
       

    5. Students new to a choice school will have ten (10) school days in which to transfer after receiving notification.

 

Revised:  August, 2004

Approved:  August 6, 2008

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:4035.1

Louisiana School, District, and State Accountability System, Bulletin 111, Louisiana Department of Education

Board minutes, 8-6-08

 

St. Martin Parish School Board