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Highlands Today

School Choice Transfers Double

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By MARC VALERO

Highlands Today

Published: October 6, 2008

SEBRING - With the number of "schools of choice" doubling this year from two to four, more than twice as many elementary students have transferred to another school through the School Choice option.
Word of mouth has spread the information about School Choice and the tutoring options under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, according to Patricia Landress, the district's federal programs resource teacher.

"We had very few 'choice' options or parents choosing tutoring the first year we had to do this three years ago," she said.

Last year around 80 to 100 students transferred to another school using the School Choice Option, Landress said. The transfer numbers fluctuate a bit during the year, she noted.

Data from early this school year shows 232 students attending another school on a choice transfer.

In Highlands County, the transfer and tutoring options are available for students attending elementary schools that do not earn the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) designation two years in a row.

Schools that have earned AYP for at least two years are the destination schools for parents who chose to transfer their child.

Last year the district had two "schools of choice" - Lake Placid and Cracker Trail elementary schools.

This year Lake Placid and Cracker Trail continue to be destination schools along with Avon and Memorial elementary schools.

The number of students who transferred to one of the four "schools of choice" as of Aug. 25 and the total enrollment on Sept. 30 follows:

• Cracker Trail Elementary - 116 transfer - 728 total.

• Memorial Elementary - 60 transfer - 687 total.

• Lake Placid Elementary - 45 transfer - 722 total.

• Avon Elementary - 11 transfer - 594 total.

Also, free tutoring services is an option for students who qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch if they remain at their zoned school.

"The tutoring has to start by Oct. 15 under state law and I expect that we will have some starting by next week," Landress said.

Thus far 320 students have completed the application for tutoring services.

The district has funding for about 500 students, so as students continue to register, their need for tutoring is prioritized based on their academic performance.

"I try to take kids whose test scores indicate they are below grade level, we try to serve them first," Landress said.

For more information about school choice and tutoring services, contact Landress or Lisa Pimentel 471-5547.

Marc Valero can be reached at 386-5826 or mvalero@highlandstoday.com

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