Empoweringkids | Elaine Chandler - September 2004: No Child Left Behind

September 2004: No Child Left Behind

Tuesday, 31 August 2004

Newsletter Contents

Publisher's Pen: No Child Left Behind

“He who opens a school door closes a prison door.”
Victor Hugo.

Ever wonder how/what/when schools are funded? What does No Child Left Behind (NCLB) mean, and how does your child fit into this program? This issue contains an overview of the federal programs to help you to understand what funds our schools receive and how they are supposed to use them.

There are so many different programs provided for our schools by the federal government in which few people are well versed. The language and acronyms used in these programs are confusing, especially if one is not an educator. However, knowledge is power, with the purpose of this issue to provide information that may help in making an informed choice.

Accountability is greater than at any point in our history. Schools must show the progress required by each individual state education department, or give parents a choice to send their children to another school. And, if parents decide to send children to another school, then a portion of the original school’s funds must go to the other school, also.

Read the next section to see the funds that schools must set aside for parent involvement, which provides for more than a parent’s night. They must help parents help kids learn how to succeed. According to the NCLB, all children must be proficient in the academic areas by the year 2113. It’s an exciting time in our nation’s schools, and we can all be a part of it!

May we learn how to help our children succeed, soaring to greater heights than ever before - a testimony to our nation’s strength.

Smiles,

elaine

Elaine

Empowering Parents and Teachers:

Find out about the impact of the NCLB as well as the Title funds from the federal government and how they can make a difference in a child’s progress. Discover what funds are available for parents too!

Overview of No Child Left Behind (NCLB):

Achievement - all kids must be proficient by 2113.

Accountability – schools must meet AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) standards as set by the state education department.

Academic areas – includes reading, math, language arts and science.

All students – including economically disadvantaged, all racial and ethnic groups, students with disabilities, students with limited English, and students in special education classes.

Overview of the Title 1, Improving Achievement of Disadvantaged Students.

Supplemental Educational Services (SES) – in the 3rd year of not achieving the AYP, schools must give parents a choice to send children to another school, and 20% of the Title 1 funds must go there. The state determines who can provide SES, and sends the list to the schools. A school may provide SES, or contract with an outside company, such as Sylvan Learning Center.

Parent Involvement – districts receiving more than $500,000 in Title 1 funds must set aside 1% of Title 1 money for parent involvement, and must show how they are helping parents to become more involved.

Teacher Training – schools are allotted funds to help provide additional training for their teachers (called professional development).

School Improvement – this is the phase that a school enters when it is deficient in any academic area and has not made its AYP. You can find out who is in school improvement and for what area. It is public information that can be found on the state education website.

Targeted Assisted Program – all decisions regarding spending of Title 1 funds are made at the district office level.

Schoolwide Program – all decisions regarding spending of Title 1 funds are made by each individual school building.

Title II-A, Improving Teacher Quality:

Class Size Reduction – can hire additional teachers to limit class size.

Teacher Training – to help teachers become highly qualified.

Nonpublic Schools – must include charter schools and private schools.

Title II-B, Mathematics and Science Partnerships:

Partnerships – to improve student performance through professional development of teachers, summer workshops and distance learning.

Title III, Teaching English to Students with Limited English Proficiency:

Teachers – pays for highly qualified ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers, tutors and assistants.

Training – pays for continual training of teachers who teach this growing segment of students.

Translators – pays for translators.

Title IV, “Safe and Drug-free Schools:”

Programs – districts can spend money on pregnancy prevention and bullying prevention.

Nonpublic schools – must include nonpublic schools that wish to participate.

Title V, “Innovative Programs:”

Teachers – pays for teachers who participate in using an “innovative program.”

Supplies – pays for instructional materials, library books and equipment.

Nonpublic schools – must include nonpublic schools.

IDEA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, (Special Education):

Students – for Special Education students with a valid IEP (Individual Education Plan).

Early Reading First:

Preschool – pays for high-quality instructional materials and training in the preschool setting.

Reading First:

K-3 – pays for reading programs and teacher training for these grades.

Even Start

Families – pays for family literacy projects that combine early childhood, adult literacy, and parenting education services.

Head Start

Ages 3-5 – helps children learn beginning reading skills and how to develop social skills so that they can be successful when they enter kindergarten.

Empowering K.I.D.S. (Kids In Daily Situations):

Don’t fake it – take it! Take what is available to you if you are having trouble reading, or you don’t get the math. Do you fake it because you don’t want the other kids to make fun of you? Take the following quiz and find out.

When reading together as a group, you move your lips without actually reading the words. Yes No

You rarely make eye contact with the teacher so that she doesn’t call on you. Yes No

You spend a lot of time with your book open as if you are really studying hard. Yes No

You are afraid that if you tell the teacher or your parents you don’t understand, he/she/they will think that you are stupid. Yes No

You pretend that it’s cool not to like school. Yes No

If you answered “yes” to 3 or more questions, you need to take what is available to you through funds from the federal government.

There is so much help for you. It can take the form of a tutor, or additional help after the school day, so your friends won’t know if you choose to not let them in on your secret.

But, what are friends for, anyway? True friends help each other when they are in need. Speak up and speak out – it will help others to do the same.

Last Updated ( Friday, 04 May 2007 )

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