The Application Process
How do I request a Public School Choice transfer? You must submit the Transfer Application Form (included in your envelope) by mail before Friday, May 4, 2012. The schools you may select are listed on the Transfer Application Form. Carefully read the instructions before marking any choices. The schools listed are "receiving schools" because they are not on the SINI or PLA lists.
What schools are available for my child? You can only apply to a school if it is listed on the Transfer Application Form.
Is this a mandatory program? No, you are being provided with the option to request 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 the “Requesting a Transfer” section of the Transfer Application Form.
Can I rank my school choices? No. There is no ranking order on the application. Your child may be matched to any school that you select, so choose only those schools that you are willing to have your child attend. You may be offered a transfer to any of the schools that you select.
How is my child matched to a school? After reviewing the schools you have selected for your child, matches are made according to seat availability and in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires that the lowest-performing and lowest-income students have first priority.
Am I guaranteed a transfer offer? No, there are a limited number of seats available at each school.
Once I accept an offer for a new school is that final? If a student does not meet the grade requirements for promotion, their NCLB offer may be changed or denied. If a student changes status from General Education to Special Education during the matching process, the offer may be rescinded.
If I receive a transfer offer, do I have to accept it? No, you do not have to accept the transfer offer. If you do not want to accept the offer, you do not need to do anything and your child will remain enrolled in his or her current school.
What happens if I miss the deadline? If you do not submit the Transfer Application Form by the deadline, we will conclude that you have chosen not to request a transfer. Your child will remain enrolled in his or her current school.
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School Accountability
Why was my child’s school identified as a “School In Need of Improvement”? The Federal NCLB law requires every state to set high academic standards and yearly goals for achievement. Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is the minimum level of performance school districts and schools must achieve every year to meet this goal. Title I schools that do not meet the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science and/or high school graduation rates for at least two years are placed on the state’s list of Schools In Need of Improvement (SINI). While some SINI schools have produced good results for many students, they have not sufficiently improved achievement for all students. In other cases, schools are included on the SINI list when an insufficient number of students participated in state-required tests.
Why was my child’s school identified as a “Persistently Lowest-Achieving”? The State's designation of schools as "persistently lowest-achieving" are schools currently in Improvement status under NCLB Differentiated Accountability, schools that have the lowest combined performance on State English and mathematics tests and that have failed to demonstrate progress on these assessments. Additionally, schools can be identified as persistently lowest-achieving include: middle and high schools that are eligible for, but do not receive, Title I funds, and; schools that have had graduation rates below 60% for several years.
If my child transfers to a new school, will he/she continue to receive Special Education (SE) services? Yes. Students currently recommended to receive SE services will continue to be entitled. An annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team meeting is required to review your child's progress. An important part of the IEP Team meeting is to document your child's current skills and abilities, establish educational goals and determine what special education supports and services will be provided for him or her. It is very imporatant that you and the school staff share information and ideas and work together as a team.
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Transportation
Will my child receive transportation? Yes. Your child will receive transportation (see below). Please note that “transportation” could be a yellow school bus or could be a full fare MetroCard. Students who transfer to a different school under the Public School Choice program will receive transportation through the final grade of that school. Please refer to the chart below to understand the NYCDOE transportation guideline for PSC transfers:
|
Walking Distance:
Home to School |
Grades K-2 |
Grades 3-6 |
Grades 7-12 |
|
Less than 1/2 mile |
Full fare MetroCard |
Full fare MetroCard |
Full fare MetroCard |
|
More than 1/2 mile, less than 1 mile |
Yellow School Bus |
|
More than 1 mile, less than 1 ½ mile |
Yellow School Bus |
|
1½ miles or more |
Special Education students who receive door-to-door transporation in accordance with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will continue to receive mandated transporation if they transfer to a different school.
Will my child keep the same transportation every year? Continued eligibility for PSC Transportation is contingent on grade level and distance from the new school. For example, a Grade 2 student that transfers through the Public School Choice program and resides more than ½ mile but less than 1 mile from the new school is eligible for General Education transportation Yellow School Bus. When this student begins Grade 3 he or she would be eligible for a Full fare MetroCard for public transportation.
If I accept a transfer for my child, when will I be informed about transportation? If you accept your offer, you can contact the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT) during the last week of August for Yellow Bus information at
(718) 392-8855. Returning your Transfer Response Form by the deadline allows OPT to schedule busing eligibility in a timely fashion. Should your child receive a MetroCard, it will be distributed by the school at the beginning of the school year.
What if we move after my child has transferred to a school through Public School Choice? If your family moves after your child has transferred to a school through Public School Choice, your child will receive transportation based on the new address using the eligibility requirements listed above. Please be sure to notify the school of your new address.
What if my child leaves the school he or she transferred into through Public School Choice? The General Education transportation provided under PSC would no longer be guaranteed. If a student leaves the school, busing eligibility would be in accordance with current NYCDOE transportation guidelines.
How can I figure out the distance from my home to a school? Use HopStop (
www.hopstop.com) as a tool to
estimate the best route and calculate time and distance from your home to a school. Make sure you know how long it takes to get from your home to the schools you select on your application.
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Public School Choice Resources