Educational Services and Choices: Information for Parents Florida PIRC at USF (Parental Information and Resource Center)

The Florida PIRC at USF We can help! The Parental Information and Resource Center (PIRC) is a project of the U.S. Department of Education. Our federal funds are designated to assist all Florida school districts, schools, and organizations. The Florida PIRC at USF works to increase student achievement by promoting family involvement.

Florida PIRC Activities Provide FREE parental involvement workshops and materials to school districts, schools, and organizations. Assist school districts and schools with parent involvement policies. Work with school districts, schools, and organizations to inform parents about the educational choices and services provided by No Child Left Behind.

Where You Come In services are available to all Florida residents, and many of those residents are PARENTS! You have the opportunity to connect parents to valuable, FREE services that will enhance their child’s education.

Resources for Staff When a parent asks about educational services or choices you can refer to websites or the following list of FAQ’s provided by the PIRC: No Child Left Behind: A Parent Guide No Child Left Behind: A Parent’s Role No Child Left Behind : Accountability School Choice Supplemental Educational Services (SES)

Objectives Participants will Understand the basic components of NCLB. Understand the free educational services and choices available to families under NCLB. Learn how to connect parents with more resources and information about these services.

Agenda Discuss parents’ need for information and the importance of parent involvement in education. Look at the basic components of NCLB. Discover the choices and services offered by NCLB. Explore how and the Florida PIRC can help parents.

Helping Children as a Team The evidence is consistent, positive, and convincing: Families have a major influence on their children’s achievement. When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more. Anne T. Henderson & Karen L. Mapp, A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family and Community Connections on Student Achievement

The Need for Information Parents cannot make well-informed decisions about their child’s education unless they have access to high-quality and accurate information. This information must be family-friendly and regularly updated.

What is No Child Left Behind? No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is an education law that was passed in NCLB seeks to achieve four main goals.

NCLB’s Goals 1)ALL students will receive a high- quality education. 2)ALL students will perform on grade level in Reading and Math by )The “achievement gap” will close. 4)Parents will have more choices and greater involvement in their child’s education.

What does NCLB mean to schools? Schools are held accountable for each student’s progress.

How are schools held accountable? Schools are required to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) every year. AYP is the government’s measurement of a school’s overall success.

Is AYP the same as Florida’s A+ Plan? No, AYP and Florida’s A+ Plan measure different aspects of school achievement.

How is AYP determined? Progress is measured by how well students perform on a state- developed test. In Florida, students take the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT).

When do students take the FCAT? GradeReadingMathWritingScience 3FCAT FCAT 11FCAT

How is AYP determined? Each year the bar is set higher, and a higher percentage of students must score at or above grade level in Reading and Math on the state test. In order to make AYP, a school’s total population must meet the state- determined goal, AND each individual subgroup of students must make AYP.

YearConsequences 1 st Year of Not Making AYP No consequence for Year 2. 2 nd Year of Not Making AYP School identified as “in need of improvement.” Must offer School Choice With Transportation in Year 3. 3 rd Year of Not Making AYP Must offer School Choice With Transportation and SES in Year 4. 4 th Year of Not Making AYP Must offer School Choice With Transportation, SES, and implement corrective action in Year 5. 5 th Year of Not Making AYP Must offer School Choice With Transportation, SES, and plan for possible restructuring in Year 6. Title I Schools that Miss AYP

What is a Title I School? Title I schools are schools that receive extra federal funds based on a high percentage of students from low- income families.

What is NCLB Public School Choice With Transportation? Students that attend a Title I school that has not made AYP for two or more years have the option to attend a higher-performing school with transportation paid for by the district.

What is SES? Supplemental Educational Services (SES) provides free tutoring to eligible students. Eligible students are students that: 1.Qualify for free or reduced price lunch. 2.Attend a Title I school that has not made AYP for three or more years.

What does NCLB mean to parents? NCLB gives parents more: Information Choices Influence

What kind of information does NCLB give parents? Individual Student Assessment Reports School and Local Report Cards The Right to Know State Standards Workshops

Information Individual Student Assessment Reports: Every year parents receive a report on how their child performed on the FCAT. This helps to identify students’ strengths and needs.

Information School and Local Report Cards Each year, the school district must distribute a report card that tells how every school and the district as a whole are performing. These reports also identify schools that did not make AYP.

Information How can parents access school and local report cards? Yearly distribution by school districts Local media Schools Florida Department of Education website:

Information How can parents use these report cards? NCLB gives parents a lot of choices about where their child attends school. Researching the performance of various schools will help parents make a more well-informed decision when they go “shopping” for a school.

Information The Right to Know: Parents have the right to request information regarding the qualifications of their child’s teacher. State Standards: Schools are responsible for helping parents understand state requirements. Training Opportunities: Schools provide workshops that show parents how to work with their children at home.

What choices does NCLB give parents? NCLB Public School Choice With Transportation Supplemental Educational Services Other School Choice Options

Choices How do parents know if their child is eligible for NCLB School Choice with Transportation or SES? Districts are required to notify parents before the start of the school year if their child is eligible. If they have not yet been notified, they should contact their child’s school.

Choices More SES Details: Who: Services are offered by providers that have been approved by the state. When: Services take place outside of the regular school day. Where: Services are offered at a variety of locations.

Choices Other School Choice Options: These choices vary from district to district but they generally include the following: Home Education Private Schools Scholarship Programs Public School Choice

Choices What is Public School Choice? Public School Choice is different from NCLB School Choice. Public School Choice is usually available to all students.

Options for Public School Choice vary, but districts usually offer the following choices: Controlled Open Enrollment Charter Schools Magnet Schools Virtual School Programs Career Academies Advanced Placement/Baccalaureate Programs Dual Enrollment Choices

What kind of influence does NCLB give parents? Schools are required to give parents opportunities to influence certain decisions and policies including the following: Parental Involvement Policies School-Parent Compact Parent Involvement Programs Parent Involvement Funds School Improvement

Finding Answers We may not be able to provide all of the answers for parents, but we can certainly send them in the right direction.

The Florida PIRC at USF: Toll free: (866)

The Florida Department of Education:

Florida School Choice: Toll free: (800)

FCAT: (850)

The U.S. Department of Education: Toll free: (800)

2-1-1 Websites

A Team Effort Our public schools need all the help they can get—from parents, family members, community residents, local organizations, and anyone else whom we can engage in children’s learning. Anne T. Henderson, Karen L. Mapp, Vivian R. Johnson, and Don Davies, Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family-School Partnerships

Please complete your evaluations. Thank you! Florida PIRC at USF