Overview
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is a federally-enacted law governing elementary and secondary education. It affects states and school districts in four basic ways.
- Greater accountability for results.
- Increased district flexibility for spending federal money.
- Expanded options for parents.
- Increased emphasis on teaching methods that have been proven to work.
Effect for District Schools
- 145 schools will receive Federal Title I funds in 2008-09 as set forth in the NCLB. The district and schools receiving these funds must ensure that they are meeting the educational needs of low-achieving students in high-poverty schools and working to close the achievement gap between high and low-performing students.
Parents whose children attend Title I schools may request information from their schools about the professional qualifications of their children's classroom teachers, including any paraeducators working in the classrooms with their children.
Teacher Qualification Information Request Form: English
| Spanish | Somali | Vietnamese | Lao
- The state has designated some Title I schools as Program Improvement schools. Based on state test scores of students, these schools have not made adequate yearly progress for two consecutive years. A chart showing the designated schools is included on the No Child Left Behind Fact Sheet (English ). District schools not listed may still be affected by NCLB because they may be identified to be receiving schools for students electing to leave Program Improvement schools.
Parent Notification and Involvement
No Child Left Behind requires that districts provide information to parents about a variety of education related issues. Many of these notifications are provided in letters sent directly to parents at their home.
- Letters regarding continuing English Learner (EL) students
- Request to Withhold Student Information from Military Recruiters:
English | Spanish | Cambodian | Lao | Somali | Vietnamese
Additional information is provided in the district's Facts for Parents.
There are many ways that parents can be engaged at their child's school as a partner in their child's education. This includes participating at school events, on school governance committees, in the classroom, and by providing supports for a child's learning at home. We encourage parents to talk with their child's teacher and principal about these opportunities.
Schools in Program Improvement
The Federal Title I program provides assistance to schools serving students from high-poverty backgrounds. No Child Left Behind requires that all Title I schools make adequate yearly progress in improving student achievement. The state has established annual student achievement targets to determine whether schools are making adequate progress. The state has designated some Title I schools as Program Improvement (PI) schools. These schools have not made adequate yearly progress in improving student achievement for two or more consecutive years based on state test scores. The Fact Sheet (English ) lists the schools, their status in the PI process as of August 31, 2006, as defined by NCLB, and additional assistance/options at those schools now available to students through NCLB. Schools not listed may still be affected by NCLB because they may be identified as receiving schools for students electing to leave PI schools.
Four Schools Exited Program Improvement in 2007-08:
- Whitman Elementary
- San Diego SciTech
- Muir
- Dana Middle
Requirements For Local Educational Agencies With Program Improvement Schools
- Memo from State Superintendent Jack O'Connell
- Attachment A : Requirements for Local Educational Agencies with Program Improvement Schools
- Attachment B : A Focus for Instructional Improvement in California
- Attachment A
Program Improvement Year 1 — School Choice
Parents of students attending a school that is in Year 1 of Program Improvement may apply to enroll their child in a non-Program Improvement school and receive transportation to the school at district expense. Procedures for school choice and transportation are as follows: if a child attends a PI school, the parent has the right to request a transfer to another designated school in the district that has not been identified as PI. The designated school is determined by the student's residence. If a parent selects this option through the PI School Choice Program (PISC), transportation will be provided according to district practices and procedures.
PISC applications and specific information about the schools that a child may be eligible to attend are available at the child's current school or in the district's Office of Enrollment Options. In order for a child to be eligible for transfer to a non-PI school for the 2009-2010 school year, completed applications must be received in the Office of Enrollment Options by February 15, 2009. As called for in the law, priority for transfers will be extended to the lowest achieving students from low-income families. It is possible that not all transfer requests will be granted if the number of requests exceeds the available funding for the program. Transportation for a student to a non-PI school will no longer be provided when the student's resident school meets its student achievement targets for two consecutive years and exits PI.
- Program Improvement Year One Letter:
English | Spanish - Program Improvement School Choice Application: English | Spanish
- Program Improvement Year 1 Fact Sheet: English | Spanish
Program Improvement Year 2
— Supplemental Educational Services
In addition to the school choice option listed under Program Improvement Year 1, schools in the second year of Program Improvement are required to offer Supplemental Educational Services to students through programs offered outside of school. As a result of limited funding, the lowest-achieving students from low-income families will be given priority for receiving Supplemental Educational Services.
- Program Improvement Year Two Letter:
English | Spanish - Program Improvement Year 2 Fact Sheet:
English | Spanish
- Supplemental Educational Services (SES) Website
Program Improvement Year 3 — District Corrrective Action Plan
In addition to School Choice Program (described in Year 1) and Supplemental Educational Services (described in Year 2) during the third year of Program Improvement, the school must work with the district to make corrective actions to improve student achievement. This may include more direct support and oversight from the Area Superintendent or other district staff, new curriculum and instructional strategies, extending the school day or school year, assistance from an outside expert, changing some school staff, or other actions based on the needs of the school. As this plan is developed for a school, parents will have an opportunity to learn about and comment on the plan.
- Program Improvement Year 3 Letter:
English | Spanish - Program Improvement Year 3 Fact Sheet: English
| Spanish
Program Improvement Year 4 – Restructuring
In addition to School Choice Program (described in Year 1) and Supplemental Educational Services (described in Year 2) and in accordance with No Child Left Behind, the district is required to restructure a school that has entered Year 4 of Program Improvement status.
Under the law, the alternative governance of the school must include at least one of the following actions: 1. Replace all or most of the school staff, which may include the principal, who are relevant to the school’s inability to make adequate progress; 2. Enter into a contract with an entity, such as a private management company, to operate the school as a public school; 3. Turn the operation of the school over to the state educational agency (e.g., California Department of Education, if the action is permitted under state law and the state agrees); 4. Re-open the school as a public charter school; or 5. Implement any other major restructuring of the school’s governance to improve student academic achievement and that has substantial promise of enabling the school to make AYP.
- Program Improvement Year 4 Fact Sheet:
English | Spanish
- Program Improvement Year 4 Letter:
English | Spanish
Program Improvement Year 5 — Restructuring Implementation
- Program Improvement Year 5 Letter:
English | Spanish - Program Improvement Year 5 Fact Sheet:
English | Spanish
Educating Homeless Students
Title IX of No Child Left Behind requires, among other things, that the district notify parents in homeless situations, via a letter from the Superintendent , of their child's educational rights under this act. The San Diego Unified School District provides schools with materials that help explain parents' rights under NCLB.
To learn more, read frequently asked questions about homeless student education .
Highly Qualified Paraeducators
Under NCLB, paraeducators who directly assist with instruction in a classroom setting, and whose site or department receives Title I funding, must comply with the new minimum qualification requirements. To ensure that all students will benefit from the intent of NCLB, the district has determined that all paraeducators, regardless of how the site receives its funding, must comply with these new requirements.
View the Highly Qualified Paraeducator Requirement Fact Sheet .
Private, Non-Profit Schools
In accord with No Child Left Behind (NCLB), the San Diego Unified School District has an obligation to achieve equitable participation of private school children, teachers and other education personnel in major federal programs. Participation is limited to private schools that have non-profit status. Learn more.
Policies, Reports & Applications
- Student Testing and Performance
- Adequate Yearly Progress Report
- Academic Performance Index
- Program Improvement School Choice Program (November 2008):
English | Spanish - Local Educational Agency (LEA) Plan (October 2008): English
- Presentation to District Advisory Council for Compensatory Education Programs (DAC) (April 16, 2008)
- Presentation to District Advisory Council for Compensatory Education Programs (DAC)
- NCLB Fact Sheet: English
- NCLB Leadership Team Directory - SDUSD cross-functional team that manages implementation of NCLB components.
- District Advisory Council for Compensatory Education Programs (DAC)
- Federal NCLB website
- Teacher Qualification Information Request Form: English | Spanish | Somali | Vietnamese | Lao
Contact Information
Federal and Special Programs
(619) 725-5605
