Program Improvement Schools

No Child Left Behind (NCLB), a federal law, affects states and school districts in four basic ways: greater accountability for results, increased district flexibility for spending federal money, expanded options for parents, and an increased emphasis on teaching methods that have been proven to work.

How are districts and schools affected?

• Districts and schools receiving these state Title I 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 may now request information from their schools about the professional qualifications of their children’s classroom teachers, including any paraprofessionals working in the classrooms with their children.

Why is a school designated as Program Improvement?

• The state has designated some Title I schools as Program Improvement (PI) schools. These schools have not made adequate yearly progress (AYP) in improving student achievement for two or more consecutive years based on state test scores. (See chart of PI schools in our district - pdf)
• Each PI School's Accountability Progress Report is available on the California Department of Education (CDE) AYP web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ay

May I transfer out of a Program Improvement school?

• Students enrolled in a Program Improvement (PI) school may transfer to another district non-Program Improvement school at the beginning of the school year If the demand for a particular school exceeds space available, priority is given to the lowest achieving children from low-income families.

Is there any additional help for my child if I elect to remain at a Program Improvement school?

• Yes, if your child is attending a Program Improvement school that is in PI status for more than one year, your child may be eligible to receive Supplemental Educational Services (SES).
• SES services means your student may receive extra tutoring outside the school day. Please see the list of providers which have been approved by the California Department of Education. SES programs must be high-quality, research-based, and designed to increase student academic achievement.
• Information about SES programs for the 2011-12 school year will be available at at later date.

Parent Involvement

• Research shows that strong parental involvement leads to student success at school. Parents interested in partnering with their child(ren)'s school are encouraged to contact the school for additional information regarding:
  • Parental involvement policies
  • School-parent compact
  • Ongoing parent/community meetings
  • Advisory committee/school site council meetings
  • Parent volunteer opportunities

Frequently Asked Questions