Illinois State Board of EducationIllinois State Board of Education

Implementation of School Choice andImplementation of School Choice and

Supplemental Educational Services Supplemental Educational Services

District Technical Assistance WorkshopDistrict Technical Assistance Workshop

June 2007June 2007

School ChoiceSchool Choice

GuidanceGuidance

for for

Letter From Districts to Letter From Districts to Parents/GuardiansParents/Guardians

RecipientsRecipients

Parents/guardians of all students Parents/guardians of all students enrolled in Title I schools identified enrolled in Title I schools identified for school improvement, corrective for school improvement, corrective action, or restructuringaction, or restructuring

Sample LetterSample Letter

Adapted from U.S. Department of Adapted from U.S. Department of Education’s Non-Regulatory Guidance on Education’s Non-Regulatory Guidance on School Choice - June13, 2005School Choice - June13, 2005

Specific elements requiredSpecific elements required Helps ensure district meets the Helps ensure district meets the

requirements requirements

ISBE RequirementISBE Requirement

Districts must submit parent letters to Districts must submit parent letters to ISBE for approval prior to sending letter to ISBE for approval prior to sending letter to parentsparents

Helps district to ensure it meets federal Helps district to ensure it meets federal requirementsrequirements

Contact: Evelyn Deimel Contact: Evelyn Deimel

217-782-2948217-782-2948

edeimel@isbe.netedeimel@isbe.net (preferred) (preferred)

RecommendationsRecommendations

Notification must be in a comprehensive, Notification must be in a comprehensive, easy-to-understand format and in a easy-to-understand format and in a language the parents can understandlanguage the parents can understand

In the sample letter, the school district fills In the sample letter, the school district fills in appropriate information where the in appropriate information where the parentheses ( ) appearparentheses ( ) appear

To keep the letter brief, include the To keep the letter brief, include the following attachments:following attachments:

School Report CardSchool Report CardAYP Status ReportAYP Status ReportList of schools to which students canList of schools to which students can

transfer and information regarding theirtransfer and information regarding their academic achievementacademic achievement

Sample LetterSample Letter

To assist school districts with the To assist school districts with the preparation of their letters, a sample preparation of their letters, a sample School Choice letter is provided. Use this School Choice letter is provided. Use this sample letter and the check list to ensure sample letter and the check list to ensure that the School Choice letter to the parents that the School Choice letter to the parents contains all the essential elements contains all the essential elements required in the statute.required in the statute.

NCLB RequirementsNCLB Requirements

An explanation of what the school An explanation of what the school improvement identification meansimprovement identification means

what year of improvementwhat year of improvement

what is requiredwhat is required

How the school compares in terms of How the school compares in terms of academic achievement to other schools academic achievement to other schools served by the Local Education Agency and served by the Local Education Agency and StateState

School Report CardSchool Report Card

The reason(s) for the school’s being The reason(s) for the school’s being identified for school improvementidentified for school improvement

Adequate Yearly Progress ReportAdequate Yearly Progress Report

An explanation of what the school An explanation of what the school identified for school improvement is doing identified for school improvement is doing to address the problems of low to address the problems of low achievementachievement

initiatives at the school building level initiatives at the school building level

An explanation of what the local education An explanation of what the local education agency or State educational agency is agency or State educational agency is doing to help the school address the doing to help the school address the achievement problemachievement problem

initiatives at the school district level or initiatives at the school district level or

at the State levelat the State level

An explanation of how the parents can An explanation of how the parents can become involved in addressing the become involved in addressing the academic issues that caused the school to academic issues that caused the school to be identified for school improvementbe identified for school improvement

places emphasis on parent involvementplaces emphasis on parent involvement

and investment in school’s successand investment in school’s success

An explanation of the parent’s option to An explanation of the parent’s option to transfer the child to another public school transfer the child to another public school with transportation provided by the agency with transportation provided by the agency

In small school districts or if the district has In small school districts or if the district has only one school per grade span, the only one school per grade span, the school is required to send the notice and school is required to send the notice and state that no viable School Choice option state that no viable School Choice option is available.is available.

Option:Option:

Supplemental Educational Service during Supplemental Educational Service during the first year of school improvementthe first year of school improvement

if no School Choice option is availableif no School Choice option is available

Supplemental Educational Supplemental Educational ServicesServices

Guidance Guidance

forfor

Letter From Districts to Letter From Districts to Parents/GuardiansParents/Guardians

RecipientsRecipients

Parents/guardians who are defined by the Parents/guardians who are defined by the district as “low income”district as “low income”

““Low income” – district determinedLow income” – district determined Commonly, parents of students on free or Commonly, parents of students on free or

reduced lunchesreduced lunches

Sample LetterSample Letter

Adapted from U.S. Department of Adapted from U.S. Department of Education’s Non-Regulatory Guidance on Education’s Non-Regulatory Guidance on SES - June13, 2005SES - June13, 2005

Specific elements requiredSpecific elements required Helps ensure district meets the Helps ensure district meets the

requirements requirements

ISBE RequirementISBE Requirement

Districts must submit parent letters to ISBE Districts must submit parent letters to ISBE for approval prior to sending letter to parentsfor approval prior to sending letter to parents

Helps district to ensure it meets federal Helps district to ensure it meets federal requirementsrequirements

Contact: Evelyn Deimel Contact: Evelyn Deimel

217-782-2948217-782-2948

edeimel@isbe.netedeimel@isbe.net (preferred) (preferred)

RecommendationsRecommendations

KISSKISS Preference: 1 pagePreference: 1 page Include attachments:Include attachments:

Approved Provider ListApproved Provider List

Provider Selection FormProvider Selection Form

Sample LetterSample Letter

To assist school districts with the To assist school districts with the preparation of their letters, a sample preparation of their letters, a sample Supplementary Educational Services letter Supplementary Educational Services letter is provided. Use this sample letter and the is provided. Use this sample letter and the check list to ensure that the check list to ensure that the Supplementary Educational Services letter Supplementary Educational Services letter to the parents contains all the essential to the parents contains all the essential elements required in the statute.elements required in the statute.

NCLB RequirementsNCLB Requirements

An explanation why the child qualifies for An explanation why the child qualifies for SES (free tutoring)SES (free tutoring)

• Second year or later of school Second year or later of school improvementimprovement

• Family meets income limits Family meets income limits under lawunder law

List of Questions to Ask When Selecting a List of Questions to Ask When Selecting a Tutoring ProgramTutoring Program

• When and where When and where • How often; how many hours in totalHow often; how many hours in total• What programs, by grade level and subject areasWhat programs, by grade level and subject areas• What type of instructionWhat type of instruction• Tutor’s qualificationsTutor’s qualifications• Help for child with disabilities or limited English speakingHelp for child with disabilities or limited English speaking• Available transportationAvailable transportation

Selection of StudentsSelection of Students

How students are selected if there areHow students are selected if there are

limited fundslimited funds

Priority is given to low-performing Priority is given to low-performing studentsstudents

District determines low-performingDistrict determines low-performing

Procedures and TimelinesProcedures and Timelines

Procedures for selecting service provider Procedures for selecting service provider

Due date for selectionDue date for selection

Date of parent fairs (optional)Date of parent fairs (optional)

Date by which school will respond to parentsDate by which school will respond to parents

AttachmentsAttachments

List of Service ProvidersList of Service Providers Currently approvedCurrently approved

Services providedServices provided

QualificationQualification

Evidence of effectivenessEvidence of effectiveness

Provider Selection FormProvider Selection Form

Form that parents will complete and submitForm that parents will complete and submit