Parent Choice Letter August 1, 2010
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Welcome to a new school year. This letter details our school’s progress toward state reading and math goals and reviews options available to some students.
The goal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is to ensure that all children receive a quality education so they can be academically successful in a high-performing educational environment. Under ESEA, each state is required to assess all of the schools within their districts to determine whether each school has made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), which means that they have met the academic testing standards set by the state. If the school has not made AYP for two consecutive years, it is considered “in need of improvement.”
Based on the results of this year’s academic testing in reading and math, the Madison Middle School meets the “in need of improvement” status for the following reasons:
1. Students labeled as “Hispanic” and “Students with Disabilities” did not meet proficiency levels in math.
2. Students labeled as “Students with Disabilities” did not meet proficiency levels in reading.
A full report is available at the Idaho State Department of Education website at www.sde.idaho.gov/reportcard and provides more information on how Madison Middle School compares with other schools in the state. This report card is also available at your school or district office. Despite these deficiencies, the 5th-7th grades at Madison Middle school perform solidly in comparison to surrounding districts and consistently exceed state averages in the areas of reading, math, language, and science. (See attached School District ISAT Proficiency vs. State Average sheet.)
Because your child is eligible for public school choice options under ESEA, there are two options available to him/her:
1. Take no action and remain at the Madison Middle School.
2. Transfer to an online academy or neighboring school outside of our district that has made adequate academic progress and has available space for your child. Available online academies and neighboring school districts are listed on the attached School Choice Request Form. (Note: Online academies and neighboring school districts have enrollment restrictions and are under no obligation to accept an application for enrollment. Furthermore, no tuition or transportation costs are provided by Madison School District (MSD) #321 for enrollment in a virtual academy. However, the MSD #321 will provide transportation to neighboring school districts that have contracted with our district to provided academic services.)
If you would like to exercise your ESEA choice option, please complete the School Choice Request Form and return it to the Madison Middle School office. The deadline for form submission is August 24th. The district will provide transportation for your child under an ESEA transfer as long as there is funding available. If the demands for transfers cause the funding to be used, the priority to provide transportation is for low-achieving, low-income students. However, all students who request a transfer will be granted one.
Whether you decide to request a transfer for your child or not, we encourage you to become involved with the Madison Middle School to support school improvement. We invite you to attend our Parent Advisory Meetings during the school year where you can give input on the future academic and social direction of your child’s school. You can also contact the school’s principal, Michael Bone, if you are interested in serving on the school’s action plan committee where we prioritize specific needs and set goals to improve the academic performance and climate of our school. Finally, we strongly encourage parents to be involved in their child’s education during the school year. Encourage your child to read each night and assist your student with homework to help him/her be successful in school.
Your child may also be eligible to participate in a free after-school tutoring program called Supplemental Educational Services (SES). Eligible students are those from low-income families. If your child is eligible, you will receive more information.
Please remember that if you do not complete and return the transfer application by August 24th, your child will remain at the Madison Middle School. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the Madison Middle School administration at 359-3320.
Sincerely,
Michael Bone
Principal, Madison Middle School