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No Child Left Behind Update 2009-10 School Year
Public School Choice (PSC) and Supplemental Educational Services
(SES) are two educational options available to parents of low
income students attending certain Title I-funded schools. Under
No Child Left Behind (NCLB), students are expected to grow academically
each year, leading to all students reaching established targets
(benchmarks) by the year 2014. Each year school districts and
buildings are rated by the federal government along a continuum
that shows the progress of all students and subgroups of students
in meeting these benchmarks, as measured on the Ohio Achievement
Test (OAT) and Ohio Graduation Test (OGT). Subgroups include
economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, Limited
English Proficient, and various racial subgroups. The progress
measure is called Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).
During the 2008-09 school year, progress was made by Mt. Healthy
City School District students, yet some subgroups did not reach
benchmarks in all district buildings. NCLB defines a school in
which this is the case as in need of "School Improvement"
every year in which Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is not achieved
by every student. Duvall, Frost, Greener, and Jane Hoop Elementary
schools are designated as in need of School Improvement for the
2009-10 school year.
As a result of the School Improvement designation, educational
options are available.
As required by NCLB, if a school fails to make AYP in two consecutive
years, parents are offered Public School Choice, through which
a parent may transfer their child to another school in the district
that is not in School Improvement status (New Burlington Elementary
School). In August, 2009 parents of 1,401 students attending
Duvall, Frost, Greener, and Jane Hoop Elementary schools were
offered PSC. As of this posting, a final count of those transferring
is being compiled and a count will be posted in October, 2009.
If a school fails to make AYP in three or more consecutive
years, parents may chose Public School Choice (PSC) or Supplemental
Educational Services (SES). SES is academic enrichment/tutoring
services provided by state approved providers and paid for by
the district with Title I funds. SES services are provided outside
of the school day at locations determined by the service provider.
The school district does not provide transportation.
A complete list of SES state-approved Providers (and details
about qualifications, curriculum, ability to serve English Language
Learners and students with disabilities, etc.) is accessible
through the Ohio Department of Education web site, or
direcectly at: ODE's Supplemental List of Service Providers. Information
describing SES providers is in a binder in each eligible school
building, and will be provided to parents wishing to enroll a
child. The information includes the locations where providers
will provide services to students.
The "per pupil amount" (PPA) for Mt. Healthy eligible
students is established annually by the Ohio Department of Education.
This year, the per pupil amount is $1,346.99 funded through Title
I and $800.37 funded through Title I American Recovery &
Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In August, 2009 parents of 658 students
attending Duvall and Greener Elementary schools were informed
of the SES option, with enrollment forms to be distributed in
late September, 2009 with a second opportunity in November, 2009.
The count of students electing SES will be posted in December,
2009.
Funds Set Aside for PSC and SES
As
required by NCLB, the Mt. Healthy City School District annually
sets aside 20% of its Title I allocation to pay for certain costs
associated with PSC and SES options in School Improvement schools.
In 2008-09 the combined budget set-aside for PSC and SES was
$248,044.50, and $70,784.79 was spent on SES and PSC. In the
2009-10 school year the combined Title I set-aside is $280,173.07.
An additional $166,476.40 is set aside in Title I American Recovery
& Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Totals spent on PSC and SES will
be posted later in the school year. Funds remaining after fulfilling
parents' requests for PSC and SES will be re-budgeted later in
the school year for other Tile I allowable purposes.
Parent Notification Process
Parents
are notified of PSC and SES options as required by NCLB, prior
to the start of the school year or as soon as School Improvement
determinations are reported to the district by the Ohio Department
of Education. Notification is by letters sent to homes through
U.S. mail; reminders sent home with students in backpacks; enrollment
reminders posted on signage in front of the schools, and through
partnership arrangements with area community organizations. Two
enrollment windows for SES are offered, each of sufficient length
to allow parents time to make an informed decision. In August,
2009 parents of students attending Greener, Duvall, Jane Hoop,
and Frost Elementary schools were notified of the PSC option.
Parents of students attending Greener and Duvall Elementary schools
were at the same time offered SES. SES enrollment forms and helpful
information will be sent to parents in September, 2009 and November,
2009.
Parents needing assisting in selecting an SES provider may
call Karen O'Connell, State & Federal Grants Coordinator,
at 728-4962 or send to her an email at koconnell@mthcs.org.
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