Find answers to the most commonly asked questions parents have about the 2008-2009 NCLB Public School Choice program. These FAQs are available in nine different languages as part of the Parent Information Package.
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Understanding the Program
What is the 2008-2009 No Child Left Behind Public School Choice program?
How does a school get identified as “in need of improvement”?
What is the New York City Department of Education doing to implement the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001?
Understanding the Application Process
How do I apply for an NCLB Public School Choice transfer for my son or daughter?
Do I have to apply for an NCLB Public School Choice transfer for my son or daughter?
Can parents of students enrolled in special education or ELL programs request transfers under the NCLB Public School Choice program?
What happens after I submit a Transfer Application Form?
How is priority determined in making transfer offers through the NCLB Public School Choice program?
Do I have to transfer my child to the school to which I am offered a transfer?
If I accept an NCLB Public School Choice transfer offer, when will my child be able to begin classes at his or her new school?
What happens after I accept a transfer offer for my child?
Will my child be able to receive Supplemental Education Services if I submit an application for an NCLB Public School Choice transfer?
Understanding Transportation Options
Will my child receive transportation if he or she transfers to a different school through the NCLB Public School Choice program?
If I accept a transfer for my child, when will I be informed about transportation?
If our family moves after my child has transferred to a school through NCLB Public School Choice, will my child continue to receive busing?
Getting More Information
Where can I obtain additional information about the NCLB Public School Choice program?
Is information on the 2008-2009 NCLB Public School Choice program available in other languages?
Understanding the Program
What is the 2008-2009 No Child Left Behind Public School Choice program?
The 2008-2009 NCLB Public School Choice program is being implemented by the New York City Department of Education to allow parents of students currently enrolled and scheduled to continue to be enrolled for the 2008-2009 school year in Title I Schools In Need of Improvement (SINI) and Schools Under Registration Review (SURR) to request a transfer to schools not identified as SINI or SURR.
Application materials have been mailed to the parents of all eligible students. Applications must be returned by mail postmarked on or before Friday, June 20, 2008. Please contact the Parent Coordinator at your school or your Borough Enrollment Office if you have any questions about your child’s eligibility or require assistance with your application.
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How does a school get identified as “in need of improvement”?
A school’s identification as a School In Need of Improvement (SINI) is based on the results of state exams taken by students every year. Based on federal guidelines, the New York State Education Department analyzes those test results to determine if a school has made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in improving student achievement. If a school does not make AYP for two years in a row, it is designated a Title I SINI.
Title I SINI are categorized by the number of years they have not made AYP and include Title I Schools In Need of Improvement (Years 1 and 2), Corrective Action Schools, Schools Planning for Restructuring, and Restructuring Schools. Such schools receive a variety of interventions to help improve their instructional programs and management.
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What is the New York City Department of Education doing to implement the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001?
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) is a federal education law governing K-12 education. NCLB centers around a number of measures designed to hold states and schools more accountable for the academic achievement of all students, to ensure that teachers are highly qualified, and to provide parents with access to information and choice.
The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) has launched a comprehensive reform agenda, Children First, which reaches into all aspects of our school system to improve the quality of education at every one of the City’s more than 1,400 schools. We are working to improve the quality of education and address the needs of our most struggling students and schools by strengthening promotion standards, targeting student interventions, creating extended year programs, developing small schools and learning communities, expanding charter schools, supporting teachers, and improving the high school admissions process and other initiatives.
The New York City Department of Education also is meeting specific requirements of NCLB through the implementation of programs to share information with parents about school performance, to notify parents of children who are attending Title I Schools In Need of Improvement (SINI), and to offer eligible students in SINI the opportunity to transfer to a better performing school or receive free Supplemental Educational Services (SES).
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Understanding the Application Process
How do I apply for an NCLB Public School Choice transfer for my son or daughter?
To apply for a transfer, you must submit a Transfer Application Form.
The Transfer Application Form must be completed and returned by mail postmarked on or before June 20, 2008. If you do not return the form by this submission deadline, we will conclude that you have chosen not to request a transfer.
Please note that your child must remain enrolled in a Title I School In Need of Improvement (SINI) or a School Under Registration Review (SURR) throughout the application process in order to be eligible for the NCLB Public School Choice program.
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Do I have to apply for an NCLB Public School Choice transfer for my son or daughter?
No, you are being provided the opportunity to apply for a transfer for your child. If you want your child to stay at his or her current school, check “No, I would not like to request a transfer” in Step One on the Transfer Application Form. If you choose to keep your child at his or her current school, and if your child is eligible for free lunch, he or she may qualify for free academic enrichment services, such as tutoring, known as Supplemental Educational Services (SES). Speak with your Parent Coordinator to find out more about SES.
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Can parents of students enrolled in special education or ELL programs request transfers under the NCLB Public School Choice program?
Yes, all eligible special education and English Language Learner students can apply for an NCLB transfer.
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What happens after I submit a Transfer Application Form?
In mid-July, parents who submitted a Transfer Application Form will be sent a letter notifying them of the result of their application.
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How is priority determined in making transfer offers through the NCLB Public School Choice program?
In making transfer offers, federal law requires that the NYCDOE give first priority to the lowest achieving low-income students.
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Do I have to transfer my child to the school to which I am offered a transfer?
No, you do not have to accept a transfer offer. If you do not wish to accept your transfer offer, you should indicate that you are declining the offer on the acceptance/declination form that will be provided to you.
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If I accept an NCLB Public School Choice transfer offer, when will my child be able to begin classes at his or her new school?
If you accept a transfer offer for your child, he or she will be able to begin attending his or her new school on September 2, 2008, the first day of the 2008-2009 school year.
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How do I accept a transfer offer for my child?
To accept the transfer offer for students enrolled in grades K-8:
1. Indicate that you are accepting the transfer offer on the acceptance/declination form that will be provided to you. Return that form by mail postmarked on or before August 1, 2008. If you do not return the acceptance/declination form by this submission deadline, the NYCDOE will conclude that the transfer offer is not accepted and your child will remain is his or her current school.
2. Accompany your child to his or her new school with the admission letter on the first day of the 2008-2009 school year to complete registration.
To accept the transfer offer for students enrolled in high school:
1. Indicate that you are accepting the transfer offer on the acceptance/declination form that will be provided to you. Return that form by mail postmarked on or before August 1, 2008. If you do not return the acceptance/declination form by this submission deadline, the NYCDOE will conclude that the transfer offer is not accepted and your child will remain in his or her current school.
2. Accompany your child to a Borough Enrollment Office with your admission letter by August 1, 2008 to complete registration.
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Will my child be able to receive Supplemental Education Services if I submit an application for an NCLB Public School Choice transfer?
Supplemental Educational Services (SES) are free academic enrichment services, such as tutoring, offered outside the regular school day and available to some students enrolled in Title I Schools In Need of Improvement (SINI). Students must qualify for free lunch in order to be eligible to enroll in SES. Students also must attend a school that has been identified as a SINI for two or more years. Submitting an NCLB Transfer Application Form now does not disqualify your child from enrolling in SES if he or she is eligible. However, if you choose to transfer your child to a different school through the NCLB Public School Choice program, your child will no longer be eligible to enroll in SES because he or she will no longer be attending a SINI. Speak with your Parent Coordinator to find out more about SES.
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Understanding Transportation Options
Will my child receive transportation if he or she transfers to a different school through the NCLB Public School Choice program?
Students who transfer to a different school under the NCLB Public School Choice program will receive transportation through the final grade of that school and in accordance with current NYCDOE transportation guidelines and NCLB requirements:
· If your child is in Grades K through 2 and resides less than ½ mile from school, he or she is eligible for a free MetroCard for public transportation.
· If your child is in Grades K through 2 and resides ½ mile or more from school, he or she is eligible for General Education transportation (yellow school bus).
· If your child is in Grades 3 through 6 and resides less than 1 mile from school, he or she is eligible for a free MetroCard for public transportation.
· If your child is in Grades 3 through 6 and resides 1 mile or more from school, he or she is eligible for General Education transportation (yellow school bus).
· If your child is in Grades 7-12, he or she is eligible for a free MetroCard for public transportation; children in Grades 7 through 12 are not eligible for General Education transportation (yellow school bus).
Please note that eligibility for General Education transportation (yellow school bus) is contingent on your child's grade level and distance from their transfer school. For example, a student that transfers through the NCLB Public School Choice program and resides more than ½ mile but less than 1 mile from their transfer school is eligible for General Education transportation (yellow school bus) in Grades K through 2. When this student begins Grade 3, they are no longer eligible for yellow school bus but will be eligible for a free MetroCard for public transportation.
Special education students who receive transportation pursuant to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will continue to receive mandated transportation if they transfer to a different school through the NCLB Public School Choice program.
For additional information about transportation, call the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT) hotline at 718-610-3400, or visit the OPT website at www.opt-osfns.org/opt.
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If I accept a transfer for my child, when will I be informed about transportation?
The Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT) will contact all parents of students eligible for yellow school busing after transportation routes have been established. Check with your current school to make sure your contact information is up to date.
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If our family moves after my child has transferred to a school through NCLB Public School Choice, will my child continue to receive busing?
Your child’s busing will continue until the end of the school year only if distance eligible. After that, busing may continue depending on the location of your new home. If the zoned school for your new address is a Title I School In Need of Improvement (SINI), your child will continue to be eligible for busing in accordance with NYCDOE transportation guidelines as described above.
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Getting More Information
Where can I obtain additional information about the NCLB Public School Choice program?
If you have questions or require additional information about the transfer process, contact the Parent Coordinator at your child’s current school. The phone number for your school can be found on the NYCDOE website through Find A School, or by dialing 311. You also may contact your Borough Enrollment Office.
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Is information on the 2008-2009 NCLB Public School Choice program available in other languages?
Yes, all documents are available in English and eight other languages. Translated documents can be obtained on this website.
These documents may also be obtained from your Parent Coordinator or your Borough Enrollment Office.
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