Educational Services and Choices:

Information for Parents

Florida PIRC at USF(Parental Information and Resource

Center)

www.floridapirc.usf.edu

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

2-1-1 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 2-1-1 Staff

When a parent asks about educational services or choices you can refer to 2-1-1 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)

ObjectivesParticipants 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 2-1-1 and the Florida PIRC can help parents.

Helping Children as a TeamThe 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 2001. NCLB seeks to achieve

four main goals.

NCLB’s Goals1) ALL students will receive a

high-quality education.2) ALL students will perform on

grade level in Reading and Math by 2014.

3) 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?

Grade Reading Math Writing Science

3 FCAT FCAT

4 FCAT FCAT FCAT

5 FCAT FCAT FCAT

6 FCAT FCAT

7 FCAT FCAT

8 FCAT FCAT FCAT FCAT

9 FCAT FCAT

10 FCAT FCAT FCAT

11 FCAT

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.

Year Consequences

1st Year ofNot Making AYP

No consequence for Year 2.

2nd Year ofNot Making AYP

School identified as “in need of improvement.” Must offer School Choice With Transportation in Year 3.

3rd Year ofNot Making AYP

Must offer School Choice With Transportation and SES in Year 4.

4th Year ofNot Making AYP

Must offer School Choice With Transportation, SES, and implement corrective action in Year 5.

5th Year ofNot 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: http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org

InformationHow 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: www.floridapirc.usf.eduToll free: (866) 775-8661

The Florida Department of Education:www.fldoe.org/NCLB

Florida School Choice: www.floridaschoolchoice.orgToll free: (800) 447-1636

FCAT: http://fcat.fldoe.org (850) 245-0513

The U.S. Department of Education: www.ed.gov/nclbToll free: (800) 872-5237

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 USFwww.floridapirc.usf.edu