School Choice (scroll down for public school choice transfer forms)
Springfield School District in School Improvement
August 5, 2011
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001, each state is required to assess all school districts to determine if each district has made adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward meeting the academic testing standards and additional measures set by the state. AYP decisions are based on the results of state testing in communication arts and math and the district’s attendance rate and graduation rate. If the district has not made AYP for two consecutive years in any one of the four areas, it is considered “in need of improvement.”
Based on the results of this year’s academic testing in communication arts and math and the district’s attendance rate and graduation rate, the Springfield R-XII school district did not make adequate yearly progress for the following reasons: several of the subgroups in the district did not achieve at the target proficiency rate and the district did not meet the additional graduation rate indicator.
While our students scored either on track or above the state average on the MAP tests (communication arts and mathematics); we did not meet AYP as a district. The target percentages of students that must demonstrate proficiency on the MAP test are set each school year by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; this target is known as Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). For the 2010-11 assessments, state targets were set at 75.5% of students scoring proficient or advanced in Communication Arts and 72.5% in Mathematics. These academic targets increase each year for students until 2014 when NCLB requires 100% of students to score proficient on the MAP in communication arts and mathematics. Because the targets increase each year, a school or district can be making progress that year and still be in school improvement.
All school districts are required to meet AYP as a whole (total student population) in addition to students in nine subgroup categories. The nine subgroups include: six race/ethnic groups (American Indian, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, White and Other/Non-response), students with disabilities, students with Limited English proficiency and students receiving free or reduced-price lunches. When a district doesn’t reach the AYP target for one or more of the subgroups for two years, they are identified as “in need of improvement.”
Because this is the fifth year of this designation, the district is considered to be in Level 3 of District Improvement, Corrective Action, Continuing. We will evaluate and update the plan for improvement that has been developed. One important component of this plan is parent involvement in the implementation of the plan. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will review the district’s progress toward meeting the goals and objectives of the plan and may impose additional sanctions.
You can also help by increasing your understanding of the assessment, understanding the importance of good attendance and graduating from school, visiting schools and becoming a volunteer, and engaging in reading and math strategies at home with your child or children. Information about No Child Left Behind and what parents can do to improve student achievement can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/parents/landing.jhtml .
Sincerely,
Norm Ridder, Ed.D.
Superintendent
When are Children Eligible for School Choice?
The deadline for requesting school choice transfers is end of day August 24th, 2011.
Children are eligible for school choice when the Title I school they attend has not made adequate yearly progress in improving student achievement--- as defined by the state--for two consecutive years or longer and is therefore identified as needing improvement, corrective action or restructuring. Any child attending such a school must be offered the option of transferring to a public school in the district--including a public charter school--not identified for school improvement, unless such an option is prohibited by state law. No Child Left Behind requires that priority in providing school choice be given to the lowest achieving children from low-income families. As of the 2002-03 school year, school choice is available to students enrolled in schools that have been identified as needing improvement under the ESEA as the statute existed prior to the enactment of No Child Left Behind.
In addition, children are eligible for school choice when they attend any "persistently dangerous school," as defined by the individual state. Any child who has been the victim of a violent crime on the grounds of his or her school is also eligible for school choice.
How do Parents know if their Child is Eligible for School Choice?
Under No Child Left Behind, school districts are required to notify parents if their child is eligible for school choice because his or her school has been identified as needing improvement, corrective action or restructuring. SPS displays this notification on its website and sends out letters to parents informing them of school choice.
School Choice Eligible Schools Identified as Needing Improvement for the 2010-11 School Year
Please select a school below to view a letter to parents regarding the school's AYP status.
Bowerman, Boyd, Cowden, Fremont, Holland (delayed), Mark Twain, McGregor, Sunshine, Weaver(delayed), Weller, Westport, Williams(delayed), York, Pipkin Middle School, Reed Middle School, and Study Middle School
Select a school below to view information about transferring and to get the forms necessary for school choice transfer.
Bowerman, Boyd, Cowden, Fremont, Holland (delayed), Mark Twain, McGregor, Sunshine, Weaver(delayed), Weller, Westport, Williams(delayed), York, Pipkin Middle School, Reed Middle School, and Study Middle School
Transfer forms must be turned into your child's home school by the end of day August 24th. Please do not take the forms to the choice school.
School Choice Transfer Schools
2011-12 Choice Transfer Schools: McBride, Pittman, Robberson, Sherwood, Watkins, and Wilson's Creek Intermediate School (6th grade only). For program information and more data regarding these schools please visit: http://springfieldpublicschoolsmo.org/relocating/locationmap.htm
2010-11 Choice Transfer Schools: Cowden, McBride, Pittman, Robberson, Sherwood, Watkins, Carver Middle School, Cherokee Middle School (7th and 8th grade only), Pershing Middle School, and Wilson's Creek Intermediate School (6th grade only).
In 2010-11 144 out of 4,057 eligible students took part in school choice transfers.
2009-10 Choice Transfer Schools: Cowden, McBride, Robberson, Sunshine, Watkins, Carver Middle School, Cherokee Middle School, Pershing Middle School, and Wilson's Creek Intermediate School.
In 2009-10 105 out of 3,276 eligible students took part in school choice transfers.
2008-09 Choice Transfer Schools: Watkins, Sunshine, Wilson's Creek, Cherokee Middle School, and Pershing Middle School
In 2008-09 58 out of 2,876 eligible students took part in school choice transfers.
2007-08 Choice Transfer Schools: Sunshine, Pleasant View, and Hickory Hills
In 2007-08 15 out of 1,082 eligible students took part in school choice transfers.
Is Transportation Available for Children who Exercise their Right to Attend Another School?
Subject to a funding cap established in the statute, districts must provide transportation for all students who exercise their school choice option under Title I. They must give priority to the lowest-achieving children from low-income families.
Title I Customer Feedback Survey
Please let us know your thoughts on the services you have received from our Title I department. Click on the following link to take the short Title I survey.
Title I Office
Doling School Building
1423 W. Atlantic
Springfield, Missouri 65803
417-523-1123
Fax 417-523-1139