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TN Department of Education
Programs
Contact Information: Julie McCargar, Ed.D., Executive Director
Phone: (615) 532-6297
Fax: (615) 532-8536

Federal Programs main » List of Programs »Title I, Part A » Public School Choice

Federal Programs: Public School Choice

Public school choice offers children who are enrolled in a school that does not meet targets for improving achievement the option to enroll in another school that is meeting the targets. Offering this opportunity for choice is required by both federal and state legislation. The federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) requires that students enrolled in high priority Title I schools be given the opportunity to transfer as soon his or her school is identified as high priority and until the school no longer has this designation. It also requires that transportation to the new school be paid for or provided to eligible students. State law (Tennessee Code Annotated [TCA] 49-1-602) mandates that public school choice be offered in non-Title I high priority schools after the fourth year in and subsequent years of not making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) to students belonging to the subgroup or subgroups not meeting the standards for AYP. This is at the beginning of year five, and is called Corrective Action under Tennessee's accountability system. The local school system is not required to provide transportation for public school choice if the student is transferring out of a non-Title I school. This web page primarily addresses public school choice required of Title I schools.

What is public school choice?

Where may a student transfer as provided under public school choice?

When did the requirement to offer public school choice go into effect?

What students are eligible for public school choice?

How will parents know if their child may be eligible to transfer to a new school under public school choice?

What are some considerations for receiving schools?

How long must public school choice be offered?

What funds are available for offering public school choice?

Related LinksOther Links of Interest
USDOE Creating Strong District School Choice Programs (Publication # EU 0108P)
National Governors Association-Center for Best Practices
Education Commission of the States
TN Accountability Chart
Sample PSC Notification Letter
Supplemental Educational Services
Public School Choice and SES Blueprint