ESEA Flexibility Will Help NHCS Change the Management of Title I Services

District to offer new Title I After-School Supplemental Educational Services

Important changes that parents need to know about have been made to federal accountability reporting. On May 29, 2012, the U.S. Department of Education approved North Carolina’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility Request for waivers to some provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act. This approval gives New Hanover County Schools, as well as other NC school districts, more flexibility in making decisions regarding Public School Choice and Supplemental Education Services.

Background
Under previous No Child Left Behind guidelines, NHCS and other school districts across the country had to follow certain requirements. According to the U.S. Department of Education, No Child Left Behind has increased school accountability, but has also unintentionally become a barrier to states and districts in making reforms designed to raise academic achievement. Therefore, the U.S. Department of Education is allowing states to apply for waivers from No Child Left Behind.

The waivers allow districts flexibility in offering Public School Choice or Supplemental Educational Services (SES) in exchange for rigorous state-developed plans designed to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction.

What does this mean for New Hanover County Schools?

• Waiver of Requirements to Provide Supplemental Educational Services (SES) and Transportation for Public School Choice

Beginning with the 2012-13 school year, NHCS will no longer be required to identify Title 1 schools for improvement, corrective action, and restructuring. The district will no longer be required by Federal mandate to implement sanctions or to provide Supplemental Educational Services (SES) and provide transportation for public school choice. These were sanctions previously related to not having met Adequate Yearly Progress or AYP under No Child Left Behind.
(A student who is already taking advantage of public school choice will be permitted to remain at his or her school of choice until he or she has completed the highest grade in that New Hanover County school. See the attached links for more information regarding ESEA.)

Instead of the Supplemental Educational Services the district previously offered through state approved vendors, the district will now offer a new program - called the NHCS After-School Supplemental Services Program at all Title I Schools. NHCS’ Title I schools are as follows: Alderman, Anderson, Bellamy, Blair, Bradley Creek, Carolina Beach, Castle Hayne, College Park, Forest Hills, Freeman, Gregory, Murrayville, Pine Valley, Snipes, Sunset Park, Williams, Winter Park, Wrightsboro, Holly Shelter, Murray, Myrtle Grove, Trask, Virgo, and Williston.

New Hanover County Schools After-School Supplemental Educational Services Program

Below is an overview of the NHCS After-School Supplemental Educational Services Program:

• The program will be held after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Check the school for the specific time.
• Transportation, snacks and supplies will be provided.
• There will be a Title I Supplemental Services Supervisor for the district.
• The program content will be designed by the NHCS Instructional Services Department.

• The program will begin in September 2012 and run through May 2013.

 For more information regarding this initiative, please contact Emma Jackson, Federal Programs Director, at (910) 254-4111.

http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/newsroom/news/2011-12/20120229-01  State Press Release
http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/program-monitoring/esea/  State Application
http://www.ed.gov/esea/flexibility  ESEA Flexibility Overview – U.S. Dept. of Education
http://www.ed.gov/esea/flexibility/documents/esea-flexibility-faqs.doc  ESEA Flexibility FAQs - U.S. Dept. of Education

Posted: 07/24/2012