SCHOOL CHOICE
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (NCLB)

In January 2002, the United States Congress passed a new federal education law called No Child Left Behind (NCLB). NCLB requires the state, school districts, and individual schools to meet specific achievement targets in math and reading. The achievement targets for Pennsylvania this year are 72 percent of the students proficient in reading, and 67 percent of the students proficient in mathematics. All students must meet these targets, including the following populations: major ethnic groups, special education students, limited English proficient students, and low-income students. In addition, at least 95 percent of the students enrolled in schools must participate in the state assessments (PSSA), and schools must show improvement in attendance rates (for elementary/middle schools) and graduation rates (for high schools). Collectively, these targets are known as Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

Section 1116 of the No Child Left Behind Act requires Title I schools identified for school improvement to offer Public School Choice to parents at the beginning of the school year immediately following the identification. Non Title I schools that are in school improvement, however, will NOT be required to offer public school choice. No Child Left Behind does NOT require non-Title I schools to notify parents of the school status.

School Choice opportunities have been provided to Bethlehem Area School District students as follows:

Year Schools Eligible for School Choice Students Eligible for School Choice Participants in School Choice
2007-2008
  Donegan Elementary School 577 25
  Northeast Middle School 805 0
2008-2009
  Donegan Elementary School 507 72
  Fountain Hill Elementary School 700 26
  Broughal Middle School 644 27
2009-2010
  Donegan Elementary School 461 44
  Fountain Hill Elementary School 666 15
  Broughal Middle School 573 28
2010-2011
  Donegan Elementary School 427 0
  Fountain Hill Elementary School 674 6
  Broughal Middle School 563 18
2011-2012
  Donegan Elementary School 383  
  Fountain Hill Elementary School 591  
  Broughal Middle School 628  

During the 2011-2012 school year, the following schools are available as options for parents to consider under School Choice:

Asa Packer Elementary School
Calypso Elementary School
Clearview Elementary School
Farmersville Elementary School
Freemansburg Elementary School
Governor Wolf Elementary School
Hanover Elementary School
James Buchanan Elementary School
Lincoln Elementary School
Marvine Elementary School
Miller Heights Elementary School
Spring Garden Elementary School
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
William Penn Elementary School
East Hills Middle School
Nitschmann Middle School
Northeast Middle School

 


Bethlehem Area School District