Assessment/Accountability
No Child Left Behind

For Parents & Guardians

Involving parents and families as full partners in the education of their children is a cornerstone of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). When families support learning, children are more successful in school and school success helps children become successful adults.

• About the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act
• NCLB School Choice
• Supplemental Educational Services
• School and District Report Cards
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NCLB School Choice

• What is NCLB School Choice? Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), parents of children attending Title I schools found to be in need of improvement may have the opportunity to choose to send their child to another public school.

• What is Title I? Title I is a program that helps schools in areas of economic need.

• How do I know if my child is eligible for NCLB School Choice? Your local school district must let you know each year if your child is eligible to transfer to another school served by the district. It must give you at least two transfer schools to choose from, if available. The district must also pay for your child's transportation costs. If there are not enough funds available to pay for all students, the district must give priority to low-income, low-achieving students.

• If my child is eligible to transfer to another school in the district under NCLB School Choice, how long can they attend the new school? Your child can attend another school until he or she completes the last grade served by the school. However, if your child's original school is no longer found to be identified for improvement under NCLB, you must provide transportation for your child if you choose to keep your child in the other school.

• What considerations should I make in deciding whether to transfer my child to another school? While the decision to transfer your child is up to you, you should ask the district about: what is going well in your child's home school; what the district is doing to improve student performance at the school; and what services the district is able to provide your child in his or her current school as opposed to other schools.

• If I choose not to transfer my child to another school, what are some things I can do to help my child? You should talk with your child's teachers about extra help for your child and how you can help your child at home. You can also: get a copy of the school improvement plan and make sure it focuses on areas where the school is not doing well; get a copy of your school's parent involvement policy from the principal, parent liaison or head of your school's parent group; find out what other parents think about the parent involvement policy and whether it covers their concerns; make sure your school has a school-parent compact, developed with and approved by parents; and make sure the compact outlines how the school will provide a supportive and effective learning environment for all students.

• Are there other school choice programs besides NCLB School Choice? Under the Massachusetts School Choice Program, which is not related to NCLB, you may have the opportunity to send your child to a school in a different city or town. Visit the Massachusetts School Choice Web page for more information.

• Where can I go for more information about NCLB School Choice?

  • The U.S. Department of Education has a Quick Reference for Parents in English and Spanish.
  • Parents' PLACE (Parents Learning About Children's Education) is a Massachusetts-based Parent Information and Resource Center funded by the U.S. Department of Education to improve parental outreach. The organization offers a brochure entitled "Public School Choice Under NCLB" available in three languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese.