Jefferson Parents Getting Word Their School Would Be the Choice for Fischer Families

Parents of Jefferson Elementary School students Tuesday night received a Talk 205 message from School District administrators informing them that their school would be the site for Conrad Fischer parents looking to move their children into a higher performing school, should that scenario play out.

According to preliminary data for the 2012-13 school year, it looks like Fischer did not make adequate yearly progress for the second year in a row. Rules established in the federal No Child Left Behind law state 92.5 percent of all students in a school must meet or exceed state standards for 2012-13 in order to make AYP. Because this is likely the second year for Fischer to fall short, and because the school receives Title I funding, Fischer parents could opt to bus their students to Jefferson beginning this August.

The Illinois State Board of Education has applied for a federal waiver of NCLB mandates, but has not yet received it. If it does, District 205 will be exempt from the school choice mandate, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Charles Johns told Fischer parents on Tuesday.

"Waivers are coming at an inconsistent rate. There is a good chance we can get a waiver in the next couple of weeks," he said.

Related: Fischer Students May Soon Be Able to Transfer to Jefferson Due to Federal NCLB Provision

The letter to Jefferson parents, sent late last night after a special School Board meeting at Conrad Fischer, begins by reiterating that Jefferson is the only elementary school in the district to make AYP based on Illinois Standard Achievement testing, therefore the only site for school choice. 

"While awaiting final data, we wanted to make you aware that there may be an option for a prioritized transfer of students from Fischer to Jefferson this fall. A special meeting was held at Fischer School last night, June 25, to provide an overview of this process for Fischer families.

"A short 11-minute video has been created to explain the same process to Jefferson parents.  It may be accessed by clicking here.  Other documents from the June 25 meeting are posted on BoardDocs, the District’s online repository of Board meeting documents.  They are also posted on the Fischer School website.

"Again, nothing has been finalized and other options are being explored.  We are still waiting for the State to approve documents that must be sent to Fischer parents notifying them of options for their student(s).  It is yet unknown how many families will be interested in the transfer option.

"Further details will be shared with Jefferson families as information becomes available.  To read about ISBE Choice, please visit www.isbe.state.il.us/grants/html/choice.htm."