Involving Parents By Giving Them Information and Choices
About Their Child's Education
By providing parents with more information, NCLB encourages parents to ask questions and make more informed decisions regarding their children’s education. It requires schools to develop ways to get parents more involved in the educational process. In fact, Title I schools are required under NCLB to have a written parent involvement policy and to provide that information to parents. In 2003, the CT State Department of Education took a broader perspective: “Although the requirements for school and district parent involvement policies apply only to those receiving Title 1 funds, The Department of Education encourages all schools and districts to develop and implement parent involvement policies. Broader than any particular funding stream or program, parent involvement policies create an opportunity to communicate with families, staff and community members about the importance of parent involvement in children’s education. Research and practice continue to demonstrate that parent involvement is key to closing Connecticut’s achievement gap.” (CT SDE, 10-8-03)
For more information about Parent Involvement, visit the CT’s School-Family-Community Partnerships
NCLB requires all schools identified as “in need of improvement” to use their federal funds to improve. Districts are required to submit a formal plan the State Department of Education for approval. In the event of continued poor performance parents have options to ensure their children receive the high-quality education they are entitled.
Parents in Title I schools identified as “in need of improvement” are offered the following options:
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School Choice: a transfer to a school within the district which has made adequate yearly progress (AYP). Districts must let parents know each year if their child is eligible to transfer to another school, and districts must give parents at least two transfer schools to choose from. Additionally districts must pay for students' transportation costs, giving priority to low-income, low-achieving students if there are not enough funds available to pay for all students.
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Supplemental Educational Services (SES), or out-of-school help must be offered to parents in the second year after the school has been determined "in need of improvement".
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View a complete list of SES Approved Providers in Connecticut.
CT offers a variety of Public School Choice options including; Charter Schools, Interdistrict Magnet School, the Open Choice Program, Regional Vocational Agriculture Centers and the Connecticut Technical High Schools
