PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE, SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, AND NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

What is meant by Public School Choice?

No Child Left Behind, a federal law, allows parents to request transfers for students who are attending schools identified by the state in the second year of improvement or in corrective action.

Why was my child’s school identified by the state? I believe my child is getting a good education there.

All schools have students achieving at high academic levels. Thank you for recognizing that your child is getting a good education

Unlike many accountability systems in the past, No Child Left Behind requires a school to meet a very complex set of benchmarks including student attendance, graduation rate, achievement in reading/language arts/English and achievement in mathematics. The school must meet all the federal benchmarks for every subgroup: students with disabilities, English language learners, each race/ethnic group, students on the free/reduced price lunch program, etc. If one subgroup misses a single benchmark, then the entire school is identified by the state.

Schools identified for improvement or corrective action receive additional funding and technical assistance to increase student achievement. However, it takes two years of successfully meeting all state standards before a school is removed from the state list.

Does my child have to transfer?

No. You are welcome to keep your child in the current school. Parents are encouraged to continue to be involved in the school’s improvement efforts.

I do not want to transfer my child. What do I do with the Public School Choice Form?

Parents/guardians of all students in the Jackson Central-Merry High School zone are expected to complete the Choice Form and return it by the deadline. If your student will be attending Jackson Central-Merry High School for the 2008-09 school year, then identify JCM as your first choice and return the form to your child’s principal or to Nathan Boyd in the school system’s central office. It is not necessary to identify a second or third choice, if your student will be attending Jackson Central-Merry.

May my child continue to be on a sports team at the new school if s/he uses Public School Choice to transfer from Jackson Central-Merry High?

Eligibility of students to play high school sports is strictly governed by the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA). A high school athlete transferring to a new high school would not be eligible to continue a sport (for 12 months) unless TSSAA grants the new school an eligibility waiver for the student. For additional information contact your child’s school or refer to the TSSAA website: http://www.tssaa.org/areyou.htm.

What if my child doesn’t like the new school after transferring through Public School Choice? May students return to the zoned school?

Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to thoughtfully consider the options before requesting a transfer. Students who transfer must remain in the new school for the complete school year.

This requirement is necessary because Jackson-Madison County must plan in advance for each school year, and must assign teachers annually to schools based on the projected enrollments.

If I transfer my student, how long will s/he be allowed to attend the new school?

Students transferring under Public School Choice as defined in No Child Left Behind may remain until completing the new school’s highest grade level. In the case of Jackson Central-Merry, students may stay at the new high school until graduation.

The option to remain in the new school is available only as long as the student’s residence remains in the Jackson Central-Merry School zone.

If I move outside the Jackson Central Merry zone, is my child still eligible for Public School Choice?

No. Your child will need to enroll in the zoned high school for your new residence. To learn the zoned high school serving your new residence, refer to: http://www.jmcss.net/zonesearch.asp.

I want to transfer my student. May I go directly to South Side or North Side and register?

No. The transfer request form must be submitted to your child’s current principal or to Nathan Boyd in the school system’s central office by the deadline. No Child Left Behind requires the school system to give priority to the lowest achieving students qualifying for free/reduced price lunches. Depending upon the number of requested transfers, students will be ranked according to the law and offered transfer choices according to these federal priorities.

When and how will I be notified concerning my child’s assigned school?

The families of students who request transfers will be notified in writing by the school system’s central offices well in advance of the 2008-2009 school year. It is critical that families promptly notify the school system of any address and phone number changes.

Will I get my first choice of transfer schools?

Not necessarily. To be considered for a transfer, the Choice Form must be completed and returned to your child’s principal or to Nathan Boyd by the deadline. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices of schools must be indicated on the Choice Form. Because federal law gives priority to the lowest achieving students who qualify for free/reduced price meals, it may be necessary to offer students a school other than the first choice.

If I transfer my child, how will he or she get to and from school?

No Child Left Behind requires the school system to establish a transportation system to the new school. However, students must inform the district by indicating the need for transportation on the Choice Form. If you have questions, please call the school system’s transportation department at 988-3890.

The school system is not required to provide transportation when a student’s former school is no longer in improvement or corrective action. According to No Child Left Behind requirements, this will not occur for at least two years.

What is meant by Supplemental Educational Services?

No Child Left Behind requires the school system to pay for state-approved, private tutoring for students attending a school in its second year of school improvement or in corrective action. This additional academic assistance is not during regular school hours and is available at no cost to the families of low-achieving students, who qualify for free or reduced price lunches. For additional information on Supplemental Services, contact the SES Site Coordinator at JCM.

Can my child receive Supplemental Educational Services if she/he transfers to a school not in school improvement or corrective action?

No. If your child transfers, the school system cannot pay for Supplemental Educational Services.

What other transfer options, in addition to Public School Choice, are available to students in Jackson-Madison County?

Jackson-Madison County Schools operate under a federal desegregation consent agreement and most students attend their zoned schools. However, the school system has been approved to offer transfers for Magnet Programs, Majority to Minority, and some Over-Crowded schools. For more information on these transfer options, contact Kim Butler at 664-2532.

What should I do with the Choice Form if my child has applied for the magnet programs at Liberty or Madison High Schools?

Public School Choice Forms for all zoned Jackson Central-Merry students must be completed and returned by January 28, 2008. Because this deadline is in advance of the random selection for magnet programs, parents should make a decision about Public School Choice independently of any interest they may have in the magnet schools.

Where can I get more information?

School personnel are available to answer your questions or concerns:

You may also visit the schools or refer to the following websites: