Policies and Procedures Handbook


Last Updated: 3/31/2005
Garrett County Public Schools
40 South Second Street
Oakland, MD 21550
(301)334-8900

TITLE I SCHOOL STUDENT TRANSFER OPTION

Administrative Procedure

Introduction

With the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), commonly known as "No Child Left Behind," which became law on January 8, 2002, students in Garrett County attending Title I schools designated as being in school improvement status (Year I, II, corrective action, or restructuring) by the Maryland State Department of Education will be provided the option to transfer to a better performing Title I school in the school system. The Garrett County Public Schools will provide a minimum of two school choice options to parents whose children attend a Title I school identified as in school improvement status.

General Guidelines

1. To be eligible for the transfer option, students must be enrolled in a Title I school designated by the Maryland State Department of Education as being in school improvement status. School improvement status will be determined by whether a school makes Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on the Maryland School Assessment. This is how the Maryland State Department of Education tracks academic performance and makes accountability decisions. Schools, school systems, and the state must show that students are making AYP in reading, math, and attendance. In addition to student achievement in the aggregate, AYP must be made among identified subgroups: students receiving special education services and economically disadvantaged students. Annual performance standards or Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO) are set by MSDE. Student performance is classified as basic, proficient, and advanced. By 2014, all students must meet the proficiency standard in reading and math. A school that does not make AYP in one or more categories for two consecutive years is categorized by MSDE to be in School Improvement, Year I, status. The school remains in school improvement status until it makes AYP for two consecutive years.

2. Transportation will be provided to the chosen Title I school utilizing Title I funding, not to exceed 20% of the total Title I allocation for the particular fiscal year.

3. Students may continue to be enrolled in the chosen Title I school, even if the home school becomes an improving school. However, transportation will not be provided by the school system (as is the current practice with any elective school transfer approval).

4. If the chosen Title I school is identified as being in school improvement status, then the students may continue to be enrolled in the selected school but transportation would not be provided by the school system. (See statement 3 above.)

                   5. The IEP for a Special Education student will determine student placement. The student would be offered a transfer to another Title I school only if  
                  that receiving school can accommodate the requisite level or intensity of services appropriate for that student. (The sending school's IEP team would
                  make the determination of the appropriateness of the receiving school's program to meet the student's academic needs.)

                  6. Students, who have transferred voluntarily into a Title I school identified for school improvement status, will not be eligible for the school choice         
                  option. It will only be available to students attending their home school.

Transfer Procedures

1. Two Title I schools, making adequate yearly progress, which are the shortest distance from the Title I school not making annual academic performance targets, will be designated for providing the mandatory school transfer option. Other Title I schools may need to be identified if the number of parents exercising their school transfer options exceeds the capacity at either of the designated Title I receiving schools.

2. The Director of Elementary Education and the Director of Transportation will identify the Title I schools designated to receive students from the Title I school determined to be in school improvement status. Transportation expenses will be covered from Title I funds.

3. A Title I School Transfer Committee, comprised of the Director of Elementary Education, the Director of Transportation, the Supervisor of Pupil Services, the Supervisor of Special Education, the Coordinator of Staff Development and School Improvement, and the affected Title I principals, will review all transfer procedures and eliminate any barriers or transition issues associated with students moving between the respective Title I school facilities.

4. Parents will be notified via a letter sent by US mail, as well as through the school's newsletter, of a parent meeting to discuss their school transfer options, eligibility guidelines, required forms, and deadlines for the submission of school transfer applications. (Applications received after the deadline for submission will not be honored.) Applications will be sent to and processed by the Director of Elementary Education's staff.

5. All or part of the Title I School Transfer Committee, as appropriate, will review all transfer applications received on or by the deadline. Applications will be screened and prioritized relative to two factors: (a) those students performing significantly below grade level (one or more years below their assigned grade level) and (b) the socioeconomic status of each student's family (the family must qualify for the federal free or reduced meal program).  No more than 20% of the annual Title I allotment for the Garrett County Public Schools will be used to subsidize the Title I school transfer option and the transfer of students to another Title I school making their annual academic performance targets.  Once this threshold is reached, then a waiting list will be established; student transfers will be offered to parents whose children are on the waiting list as openings at receiving schools materialize during the academic year in conformance with "No Child Left Behind" administrative guidance.  Arrangement for all approved transfers will be completed by the Director of Elementary Education, in consultation with the Director of Transportation and the Supervisor of Pupil Services.  Parents will be asked to travel to their selected school to finalize the registration process prior to the opening of the new academic year. 

Student Selection Criteria

All students enrolled in a Title I school designated as being in school improvement status will be provided with the option to transfer to another Title I public school that is not currently in any phase of mandatory school improvement.

First Level of Eligibility

Students in grades K-5, who are low-achieving, as measured by the Maryland School Assessment program and school-based benchmark data, and are from low-income families, as determined by eligibility for Free and Reduced Priced Meals, will be given top or first priority for transferring to another Title I school.

Second Level of Eligibility

Students in grades K-5, who are low-achieving, as measured by the Maryland School Assessment program and school-based benchmark data, will be given second priority to exercise their school transfer option.

Third Level of Eligibility 

Students in grades K-5, who are from low-income families, as identified by eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals, will be given third priority to transfer to another school.

Fourth Level of Eligibility

Students who do not meet any of the criteria cited above will be selected in the order that their requests were received in the Director of Elementary Education's office.

Once the screening and prioritizing of applications is completed by the Title I School Transfer Committee, then parents will be notified in writing of the status of their school transfer request and provided with the essential steps that they will need to take to complete the application process at the receiving Title I school. It will be the responsibility of each parent to register his or her children at the chosen Title I school.

The Title I School Transfer Committee, under the direction of the Director of Elementary Education, will conduct an annual review of these transfer procedures. As necessary, refinements and adjustments will be made to make the transfer process as pleasant and efficient as possible for all students, parents, and school-based personnel.

Application for the Title I School Transfer Option Adobe Acrobat is required to view this chart.  Download free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html  )


Back Button [
[
[
Previous | Next
Section 300
Table of Contents 
]
]
]
Instruction 341.41 DDF
Adopted 11/11/2003