Public School Choice

Under No Child Left Behind, students who attend a Title I-funded school that is identified for Priority Improvement or Turnaround must be given the option of Public School Choice. This provision allows all students attending such a Title I school the option to transfer to another public school, including a public charter school, that is within the LEA and that is not in Priority Improvement or Turnaround and is not persistently dangerous

The option of school choice must be made available to all students enrolled in Priority Improvement and Turnaround schools, until the school comes off Priority Improvement and Turnaround. Students who exercise their right to attend another school under this school choice provision must be given the option to continue to attend that school until they complete the highest grade of that school, even if the original school is no longer in Priority Improvement and Turnaround.

Districts must provide transportation for students who transferred from a school on  Priority Improvement or Turnaround. If funds to provide school choice and/or transportation are limited, local education agencies may give first priority to the lowest achieving students from low-income families  [Title I, section 1116(b)(E)(ii)] based on achievement levels as evaluated by objective educational measures.

The example parent notification letters are footnoted to demonstrate compliance with the federal requirements. Two example letters are provided below. Notice that in districts where a transfer school is not available and no neighboring district agrees to accept students, the notification to parents still must include all the required elements.

Upcoming Training Webinars for Title I Schools on Priority Improvement or Turnaround Plans

Parents of students enrolled in Title I schools currently on Priority Improvement or Turnaround plans must be notified of the school's status and the option to send their student to another district school that is higher performing in 2012-13.

• Colorado Title I SES and Title I Public School Choice Guidance 2012 - pdf
• Parent Choice Notification Presentation - pdf 
• Parent Choice Notification Checklist - pdf 
• Public School Choice Example Letter (choice schools available) - pdf
  • Template (replace red font with school specific information) - word
• Rule Change as of May 3, 2012
  If choice schools are not available. the district no longer needs to send out a Priority Improvement/Turnaround - Choice notification letter to parents.
• School and District Performance Data 

For Additional Information Contact:   

Trish Boland
303-866-6998
send an email