Imagine being told you have to return to the academically struggling school you left and also having to change your year-round track.
As noted in today's article by Ray Martin, Joni Duell's two kids were sent back to Barwell Road Elementary School after having taking advantage of their options last year under No Child Left Behind to transfer to a more successful school.
It's a double whammy for Duell, whose children were on track 4 at East Garner Elementary. Instead of starting the new school year on July 27, they were given a track at Barwell that started July 7, forcing them to start classes three weeks earlier than planned.
Duell is not happy. She's pointing to federal No Child guidelines that say that students who transfer out of a failing school are supposed to be allowed to stay at their new school until they finish.
But Wake is making the 262 students who transferred out last year under No Child return to their old school and reapply to get out.
Federal and state officials said in today's story that Wake's practice seems to go against the intent of NCLB. School officials say they're trying to deal with conflicting transfer demands of NCLB.
On one hand, districts are supposed to provide transportation to transfer students. But the law also says districts don't have to continue busing transfer students to their new schools if their original school meets No Child mandates for two consecutive years.
Asst. Supt. Chuck Dulaney said they wanted to avoid providing transportation to students when they don't have to do so. This means reassigning students to their old schools before providing them their transportation and No Child transfer options for the coming year.
While the legality of this practice is debatable, it's less of a problem for students trying to leave traditional-calendar schools. But it really causes problems for parents like Duell at year-round schools whose children start the school year much sooner.
As previously noted, Wake also isn't following NCLB guidelines saying students at year-round schools should be notified of their transfer options before the first day of classes.
This means that students who had left failing year-round schools actually have to spend time at their old schools before being given the option to reapply for a transfer out.
Comments
Wendell Elem. Fails NCLB
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 11:56 — AngelaWhttp://www.easternwakenews.com/front/story/4302.html
This is only one example
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 10:14 — ChrisMarschI too have been shuffled as part of this process. In the article that was posted several weeks ago, http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1605161.html,Barwell is only one example. Wake county has several Title 1 schools, as well as several schools that have failed the AYP 2 and 3 times in a row. I have worked with the State and the Feds on this matter and have found what Wake County has done to be nothing less than a blatent violation of the NCLB Federal Law. Wake county has made it difficult for thousands of students throughout the county to get a stable and quality education. They continue to fail our kids and place them in schools just to meet their numbers they need to get income from the Feds, State and private organizations. It is shameful that our kids are being used in their game to pursue their own agenda. They continually hide behind claims like, "It's too difficult to deal with this growth." "How can we possibly follow all these laws?" "Parent's just don't understand what is really in the best interest of their children." It is time for parents to take back our schools and stop letting them dictate our children's future and get involved in their education.
Shuffled
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 12:16 — TrailerParkGirlHave you and other families been given your first opt out choice or did they send people to the choice WCPSS wanted?
Why can't they give students, parents and schools just a little stability. Is that really so much to ask?
Yes, far beyond time for common sense to prevail.
New subject, nc says grades 4 and up can have...
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 18:43 — midtownmomas many students per classroom as needed depending on that systems budget. So there are apparently no class size limits anymore except for K-3. That is really scary considering the bad decisions our school board has made in the past few years. Me thinks they will take this and run...(along with the teachers who will want out because they can't teach that many children in one room)!
they've done this already
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 18:58 — AngelaWthey've done this already with class size waivers, most schools automatically include/request with the SIP's....also for MS.....
Intent of the law
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 15:40 — NWRaleighMomThe federal No Child Left Behind law requires school districts to offer parents the option of transferring their children from high-poverty schools that fail to meet the statute's academic benchmarks for two consecutive years.
Mr. Hui - they don't have to provide transfer option if school failed AYP two years in a row but was receiving Title 1 money just for 2008-2009?
Wake seems to be offer the
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 16:42 — KeungHui (author)Wake seems to be offer the hook because Hilburn wasn't a Title I school in 2007-08. But the board just revised tomorrow's agenda to include a vote on Title I transfer options so we should have more info then.
Thanks! What about Reedy
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 17:51 — NWRaleighMomThanks! What about Reedy Creek? It also failed two AYPs in a row. Wasn't it a Title 1 school for 2 years?
There are three
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 18:09 — KeungHui (author)There are three possibilities:
1.) Wake made a mistake and should have included Reedy Creek among the schools giving transfers.
2.) Under NCLB, you have to fail the same subject two years in a row. Reedy Creek missed in reading in 2007-08. If the school only missed in math in 2008-09 then it's off the hook. The detailed AYP results are coming out Thursday.
3.) Reedy Creek might not be considered a Title I school for the 2009-10 school year. It's possible that the elimination of the non-consent kids and reassignment had such an effect that the school fell under the 35 percent F&R mark.
Is Hilburn NOW considered a
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 16:49 — AngelaWIs Hilburn NOW considered a Title I school??? Is that why it is so empty?
It was in 2008-09. It's 33
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 16:59 — KeungHui (author)It was in 2008-09. It's 33 percent F&R in 2007-08 put it just under the 35 percent cutoff that year.
so they got Title I funding
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 17:12 — AngelaWso they got Title I funding in 08/09?
and a whole lotta transfers out for 09/10.....
Yep. Click here for the
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 18:00 — KeungHui (author)Yep. Click here for the 2008-09 Title I list.
Title I Schools
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 22:49 — JanisTangoI'm curious how many schools were Title I schools for one year only. It seems to be a case in many schools that didn't meet AYP. I know our school (Jeffreys Grove) was Title I last year and then lost that status with the mess the created with the reassignments this year. We didn't meet AYP for 2 years in a row, but we were only technically Title I for one of them. Could it be they do this intentionally to not have to meet the NCLB transfer criteria? Just curious.
and now they are Title I
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 18:14 — AngelaWand now they are Title I again for 09/10?
with at least 12 empty classrooms no less...
This is...
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 14:01 — gunfam...completely messed up! When will BOE remember that they are dealing with CHILDREN not PAWNS!
So its ok to bus kids when THEY want to, just not when its best for the kids. So sad.
They are doing this to cut
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 13:43 — dryeraseuserThey are doing this to cut transportation costs????? Well that's about the funniest thing I've ever heard. Granted WCPSS has many faults, but we do need to see how the Federal Government has caused a great deal of this mess with NCLB. It has nothing to do with the children, it has everything to do with government and political hands messing up the local school systems across the country, not just here in Wake County or North Carolina.
Well...
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 13:32 — JSBinNCunless there are lawyers willing to take this case on for free - who has the money to throw into suing the school board at the moment? Probably not many.
The bottom line is that WCPSS doesn't seem to give a rats ass about what is best for any child in situations like this. What they are asking this family to do is stupid and petty. Why not even give mom the option of parent provided transportation while they sort it out??
Anything, anything - is too much to ask, it would seem. How pathetic.
We don't have to imagine,
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 13:22 — g88ky07we live in Wake County!
Sue them folks! Under "the law" you are in the right at the moment, not they! Matter of fact, sounds like a great class action suit for 262 of you! Don't sit around and debate it, hire the best attorneys and go after it! SUE THEM!!!
imagine, if you will, being
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 13:02 — AngelaWimagine, if you will, being Chuck (and in turn, Del and the BoE (eR) and being allowed to simply offer excuse after excuse for BREAKING THE LAW.....it is unfathomable how they continue to skirt this stuff.....