educational services and choices: information for parents
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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! - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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