NCLB Parental Choice and SES 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under NCLB, how long must a school be identified as 'in need of improvement' before students become eligible for public school choice?
- After one year of not meeting AYP
- After two consecutive years of not meeting AYP (Correct answer)
- After three consecutive years of not meeting AYP
- Immediately upon missing a single AYP benchmark
Correct answer: After two consecutive years of not meeting AYP
NCLB triggers public school choice after a school fails to meet AYP for two consecutive years.
Question 2: Which federal law first established Supplemental Educational Services (SES) as a parental option for students in low-performing schools?
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Correct answer)
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
Correct answer: No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
NCLB (2001) created SES as a mandatory option when schools entered their third year of improvement status.
Question 3: A district must reserve what percentage of its Title I Part A allocation to fund public school choice transportation and SES combined?
- 5 percent
- 10 percent
- 15 percent
- 20 percent (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 20 percent
NCLB required districts to reserve up to 20 percent of Title I Part A funds for public school choice transportation and SES.
Question 4: When a district cannot serve all eligible SES applicants due to limited funds, NCLB requires priority to be given to:
- Students with the highest academic achievement scores
- Students from the lowest-income families first (Correct answer)
- Students who have been enrolled longest at the failing school
- Students selected by lottery regardless of income
Correct answer: Students from the lowest-income families first
NCLB requires that when SES slots are limited, the lowest-income eligible students receive priority.
Question 5: Which entity is primarily responsible for approving SES providers before they can offer tutoring services under NCLB?
- Local school district
- State educational agency (SEA) (Correct answer)
- U.S. Department of Education
- Regional accreditation body
Correct answer: State educational agency (SEA)
State educational agencies approve and maintain lists of qualified SES providers under NCLB.
Question 6: Under NCLB's SES provisions, which of the following is an explicit prohibition placed on school districts?
- Districts may not evaluate student progress during SES tutoring
- Districts may not act as SES providers if they are identified for improvement (Correct answer)
- Districts may not inform parents about available SES providers
- Districts may not set a per-pupil spending cap on SES contracts
Correct answer: Districts may not act as SES providers if they are identified for improvement
NCLB bars a district identified for improvement from serving as its own SES provider to avoid a conflict of interest.
Question 7: NCLB required districts to notify parents of the public school choice option within what timeframe after a school is identified for improvement?
- Within 14 days of identification
- Within 30 days of identification but no later than 14 days before the start of school (Correct answer)
- Within 60 days of the school year starting
- Before the end of the prior school year
Correct answer: Within 30 days of identification but no later than 14 days before the start of school
Districts must notify parents within 30 days of identification but at least 14 days before school starts so families can act on the option.
NCLB Parental Choice and SES 2
Under NCLB, how long must a school be identified as 'in need of improvement' before students become eligible for public school choice?