Two schools in the Davis School District are preparing to give parents transfer options in moving students to higher-performing schools under No Child Left Behind provisions.
Four schools in the district didn't make the grade last year. For two of them, this was their second year missing the required benchmarks. So under law those schools must offer transfer options for students.
No Child Left Behind aims to have all students, regardless of ethnicity, disability or poverty, be proficient in language arts and math by 2014. It measures schools' work toward the goal in public "adequate yearly progress," or AYP, reports. And the school is broken down into ethnic subgroups, which all must meet benchmarks on state tests to make AYP.
Only low-income schools receiving special Title I money from the federal government face sanctions for failing to make AYP, like being required to offer school choice.
This year South Clearfield Elementary and Vae View Elementary didn't make AYP for the second year in a row. The district has provided the schools with transfer plans starting next year and will also foot the bill for transportation.
Students attending South Clearfield will have the option of transferring to Antelope, Bluff Ridge, Hill Field, Hold or Wasatch elementaries. Students attending Vae View can transfer to Adams, Crestview, East Layton, King or Layton elementaries.
Those interested should contact the principal at their respective schools.
School choice will be provided until the two elementaries are able to make AYP two years in a row.
This year 39 of Utah's Title I schools failed to make AYP in either language arts, math or both.
A total of 12 fell into sanctions territory and are required to provide transfer options.
Sixteen schools now are in school improvement, compared to six last year.
E-mail: terickson@desnews.com