UPDATE: Parents of 32 Conrad Fischer Students Have Requested Transfer to Jefferson

UPDATE: Fischer parents on Wednesday signed up seven more children to be bused from Conrad Fischer to Jefferson School beginning this school year. It was the last day for parents to participate in the school choice option, which is stipulated in the federal No Child Left Behind law for schools that don't make adequate yearly progress for two consecutive years. 

This brings the total number of students leaving their neighborhood school to 32. As soon as busing information for these students is finalized, it will be sent to parents.

The break down by grade level, according to an email sent out by District 205 at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, is:

• Kindergarten: eight
• First grade: three
• Second grade: five
• Third grade: 10
• Fourth grade: two
• Fifth grade: four

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ORIGINAL STORY:

The number of parents asking to transfer their children from Conrad Fischer School to Jefferson School has increased to 25, Elmhurst District 205 Superintendent David Pruneau told the School Board Tuesday.

"We are arranging for a bus to take those students to Jefferson," he said. 

Fischer parents received a letter Aug. 2 detailing the school-choice option, which became available under a provision of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Fischer did not make adequate yearly progress, according to standardized test scores, for two years in a row, so families can choose to send their students to a school that did make AYP, in this case, Jefferson.

The deadline is today, Aug. 14, for Fischer parents to decide if they want to switch schools. Jefferson has the space to accommodate more than 80 additional students, but staffing has been challenging, especially with enrollment numbers changing from day-to-day and school starting on Monday, officials have said. 

"We did add a fifth-grade (section at Jefferson), and we're also looking at another kindergarten section," Pruneau said. "We'll make that determination tomorrow."

Staffing at Fischer has been even more challenging. The school requires a number of bilingual teachers and additional resources to meet state mandates for bilingual students. Parents were not happy with staff changes implemented last school year, but Pruneau said administrators, Fischer Principal Jane Bailey and others have come up with a staffing model for Fischer that appears to have resolved those concerns.

"We came up with a staffing model that staff is supportive of and meets the needs of all students at Fischer. Bilingual, English—everyone's needs are being addressed," he said. 

Read specifics about staffing at Fischer: Requests for Transfer of Students From Fischer to Jefferson Have Begun

Pruneau said they have evidence that the staffing model is supported by families: For the first time in months, "No parents showed up here this evening," he said.

Jefferson May Not be the Only School That Made AYP

District 205 staff have anticipated for some time that Jefferson School would be the only district school making adequate yearly progress. But in an unexpected twist, there is some indication from the state that Jefferson is not the only school that made AYP.

"The state has decided to change the criteria (defining) AYP," and it has redefined the Safe Harbor provision, which provides an exception to subgroups with regard to AYP.

The Illinois State Board of Education website addresses Safe Harbor and other frequently asked questions about AYP.

Ironically, the State Board of Education increased cut scores for the Illinois Standard Achivement Test earlier this year, making it more difficult for students to meet state standards.

"They have raised the criteria for the ISAT cutoff, making it more rigorous, and at the same time they manipulated the formula so more schools make AYP," Pruneau said. "I'm puzzled. We're still trying to find out what that formula means."

He said while it's good news more Elmhurst schools likely made AYP, it won't affect Jefferson, which was declared the school-choice option for Fischer parents months ago.

"It won't change school choice," Pruneau said.

The trouble with AYP, board member Chris Blum said, is that it has the potential to pit one neighborhood against another. 

"I would hate to have one area look at another and say, 'We made it and you didn't,' " he said. "AYP is not a reflection of what is a great school in Elmhurst and what is not a great school in Elmhurst."

Pruneau said there are "something like 250 ways" a school can fail to make AYP because of various subgroups, including non-English speaking and special education students, who are tested. To make the federal AYP cutoff this year, 92.5 percent of all students in a school must meet or exceed state standards on standardized tests.

"That's a really high bar to start calling schools a failure," he said, adding that by many standards, Fischer is considered one of the best schools in the district.

Was It All Worth It?

No matter how the testing is calibrated, when all is said and done, NCLB and English Language Learner mandates result in increased costs for District 205—in staffing, transportation and other line items, Pruneau said.

"This is all a cost increase," he said. "This is not resource-neutral."

For all the time, effort and cost expended on complying with federal and state mandates, School Board President Jim Collins wondered if the district is better off.

"I am very curious, after all this is finished, if complying with all this has provided our children with a better education, or just a more expensive education," he said.

The educators at the local level are not making the decisions, Pruneau said.

"Was there a better model we could have come up with internally? We were never given that option," he said.

Illinois is one of the last states in the country that hasn't received a waiver of NCLB requirements; 44 states received one.

"It makes zero sense that different states are being treated differently. While we're stuck dealing with school choice, most states don't even have to deal with this anymore," board member Shannon Ebner said.

RELATED: 

• Fischer Students May Soon Be Able to Transfer to Jefferson Due To Federal NCLB Provision
• Jefferson Parents Get Word Their School Would Be the Choice for Fischer Families
• Parents Claim Racial Tensions and Segregation Affecting District 205
• More Parents Share Concerns About Fischer; Superintendent Promises Better Communication

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