HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-03-2007-FolUpMEMORANDUM
TO: Laura Blackmon
County Manager
FR(_)A~I: James Spivey
DATE: June 05, 2007
RE: Apri123, 2007 A~Iemo: Hillsborough ~Y, Central Elementary Schools
VtW e understand that concern has been voiced that errors of fact may be referenced in the April 23,
2007 A~Iemorandum regarding Hillsborough and Central Elementary Schools. The "errors of fact"
consisted of vieFVS expressed by communit3r members during a. Human Relations Commission meeting an
the topic of Title I School Improvement Status and its implications. The views expressed were not
intended to represent the opinion of County staff, nor did staff subject the community's statements to
independent verification since the issue was determined to be beyond the purview of the HRC.
However, to help ensure information conveyed to the HRC and BOCC about Title I Schaol
Improvement Status is technically correct, I contacted Dr. Belinda Black, Coordinator of Na Child Left
Behind, Schaal and District Improvement Sanctions Division of the North Carolina Department of Public
Instruction. I asked Dr. Black to clarify three (3) questions: 1) If an elementary school does not pass the
Annual Yearly Progress {AYP) assessment, does that school became Title I School Improvement Status?;
2) With a designation of Title I School Improvement Status, does this designation mean the State
Department of Instruction will monitor and manage that school?; and 3) With this clesignatian, will
students be allowed to transfer to any other school in the School District, with the associated
transportation cast borne by the Schaal District?
Dr. Black responded as follows:
1. If a Title I school does not make AYP for two consecutive years in the same subject (either reading or
math), it moves into a level of sanction called Year 1 of School Improvement.
2. 11jot necessarily. Title I schools in Year 1 of school improvement must amend their school
improvement plans to address the school's performance shortcomings under RrCLB. They must also
offer public school choice and the district must provide transportation jor the students who choose to
transfer. The district will determine which school(s) isiare provided as transfer options. The district
should provide technical assistance to help bring the school out of improvement. The state Title 1
office may offer technical assistance if requested.
3. The District will determine if there is another school or schools that the students may transfer to.
There should be at least two options provided, but sometimes that is not possible. In some instances,
only one option for transfer is prati~ided. In certain rare instances, there may be no school to which
students can t~°ansfe~°. Yes, the dist7°ict is responsible for p~°oviding transpo~°tation.
I believe Dr. Black's clarification addresses the fundamental concerns regarding Title I School
Improvement Status. Please let me know if additional information is required.
Ij es
xc: I~lembers, Human Relations Commission