Under Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), students who attend a Title I-funded school that is identified for program improvement, corrective action, or restructuring must be given the option of school choice. This provision allows all students attending such a Title I school the option to transfer to another public school, including a public charter school, that is within the LEA and that is not in program improvement or is not persistently dangerous.
The option of school choice must be made available to all students the first year a school is identified for school improvement and all subsequent years thereafter, until the school has made adequate yearly progress for two consecutive years. Students who exercise their right to attend another school under this school choice provision must be given the option to continue to attend that school until they complete the highest grade of that school, even if the original school is no longer in program improvement, corrective action, or restructuring.
Schools that are offering school choice because they have been identified for program improvement, corrective action, or restructuring must provide transportation to students who transfer to another school. If funds to provide school choice and/or transportation are limited, local education agencies (LEAs) may give first priority to students from low-income families who are the lowest-achieving students [Title I, section 1116(b)(E)(ii)] based on achievement levels as evaluated by objective educational measures.
More information regarding school choice may be found by clicking on the following topics:
ESEA - FAQ (Outside Source)
Promoting Parental Options and Innovative Programs (Outside Source)
Publications (Outside Source)
- Overview of Public School Choice Provisions (Outside Source)
- Guidance on Implementing Public School Choice Provisions (Outside Source)
- School Results Database (Outside Source)
To see more topics on school choice that include Frequently Asked
Questions, please click on the link below:
United
States Department of Education School Choice (Outside Source)
Choice Student Eligibility and Participation Data
- 2007-2008 Students Eligible and Received Choice (Posted 31-Dec-2010)
Federal, State, Outside Choice Resources
- Letter from State Superintendent Jack O'Connell regarding changes to Title I, Part A federal regulations. (Posted 31-Dec-2010) This letter reminds local educational agencies (LEAs) of regulations for Title I from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) established in October 2008 (34 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] sections 200.44–48), Non-Regulatory Guidance (NRG) on public school choice and supplemental educational services (SES) published January 14, 2009, and informs LEAs of our intent to apply for waivers of certain provisions.
