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Testimony of Mr. William E.
Harner U.S. House of Representatives Hearing On Brushy Creek Elementary School Good Morning. I'm Dr. William Harner, Superintendent of Greenville County Schools. It's good to see you, Congressman DeMint. Congressman Carter, welcome to Greenville. And welcome, both of you, to Brushy Creek Elementary. This
morning you've asked me to talk to you about the Choice and Supplemental
Services components of No Child Left Behind and how those provisions of
the Act are playing out in Greenville County Schools. CHOICE Background Last year -- the first year we were required to offer choice, we had 4 schools --2 elementary and 2 middle -- (Hollis, Monaview, Lakeview, Parker) required to offer choice. Of about 1,600 students eligible to transfer from these 4 schools, approximately 140 exercised their option and went to other schools in the district. This year,
we have 8 schools offering choice -- the four from last year, plus 3 more
elementary and 1 more middle (Cone/San Souci, E. North Street, Sirrine,
Tanglewood). Transportation To transport these students last year, we spent approximately $30,000. This year, those costs are estimated to be more than $80,000. That is for 4 bus leases. -We've requested permission from the State Department of Education to purchase a limited number of buses to be used specifically for choice transportation, but federal regulations have prevented us from doing so.
-This is important to us . . . a child exercising his legal right to
choose another school should not be forced to spend hours on a bus going
to and from school each day. Clearly this is not in a child's best
interest and does not fulfill the academic purpose of NCLB. Receiving Schools About the schools receiving choice students . . . Additional resources for choice students, such as class size reduction efforts or supplemental support materials, cannot be funded through Title I for non-Title I schools receiving transferring choice students. Yet, the receiving schools are the ones facing the challenge of helping transferring students to achieve better. NCLB provides no resources to assist former Title I students who elect to transfer to non-Title I schools. Flexibility of Title I funding does not address this issue. -One thing we'd like to see done which would help these receiving schools would be to allow Title I funds to follow teachers excessed from Title I schools. This year, none of our middle schools met AYP, even though many of them have earned state and national academic distinctions. As a consequence of this, we face the future possibility of not having receiving school options for middle grades. With neighboring districts in the same shape, they're not in any position to help us out through an agreement for choice. With no receiving school available, will each middle school student in Greenville County have to be offered supplemental services?
-This is an issue more tied to AYP . . . which is a topic for another
day. But it is something that must be addressed. SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES
Last year, in the first year of offering
supplemental services, notices were mailed to parents of Participation by parents selecting supplemental services was minimal, at best. -Although a core group initially responded, only 4 students continued in the program from its inception to the end of the school year. -We believe this low participation was due to several factors, including: -The newness of NCLB and late start in the school year; -The fact that our schools already offer many programs through the state Education Accountability Act, Title I, fee-based and local community partnerships; -The fact that except for fee-based programs, all are provide free to the parents; and -The fact that after school programs are convenient. Parents do not have to provide transportation (but they do for supplemental services). "After school" programs are just that … after school. Supplemental services often occur in the late afternoon or early evening. Last year, providers included Sylvan, Communities in Schools, City of Greenville Recreation Department and Cyber Study 101. -Of these providers, this year, only Sylvan reapplied to be a provider. -Greenville County Schools is also an approved provider this year. Others include the Learning Academy of Fountain Inn and Sylvan.
-Out-of-state providers dropped out because of lack of local company
contacts or because of facility needs. NOTICE TO PARENTS The title of your presentation asks: Are states and school districts giving parents the information they need? I believe Greenville County Schools is giving far more than they need; in fact, I don't believe there is anything more we can do to notify parents of their right to choice or supplemental services. -Last year, we mailed approximately 1,600 notices of supplemental services to parents of 3 schools required to offer the services. -Additionally, the district advertised the availability of supplemental services in the newspaper, on the Internet, and on the school district's cable TV channel. -Principals also advertised the availability of services. -On 4 different dates in March and April, meetings were held at the district's central office and at schools with parents, school personnel and providers. (Late start last year due to it being the first year NCLB required supplemental services. The district took action as information was shared with it.) This year, just a couple of weeks ago, approximately 1,600 notices went out. (Schools: Hollis, Monaview, Parker, + Lakeview) -Official notice packets were mailed in English and Spanish. -Principals are also using Phone Master, flyers and marquee announcements to inform the public. -Last week, we had a paid public notice in the Greenville News listing all the locations and times of meetings. -Announcements are on the web and district TV again this year. -We've already had 4 Title I parent and provider meetings: two on October 13th and two on the 16th. -We have one scheduled for tomorrow evening (Hollis), and one for next Tuesday (Parker). -At these meetings, providers of supplemental services are available to explain their methods of delivering services. I want to share with you our experience at one school offering supplemental services. (Lakeview) -At a meeting on supplemental services scheduled for October 13th, 1 parent showed up. At a 2nd meeting later that evening, 5 were there. -Because the school had received phone calls inquiring about the notification letter, however, a 3rd meeting was planned.
-This meeting will be at the school's PTA dinner meeting tomorrow night. Are we doing enough? We will
hold as many meetings as needed at each school to inform parents and
address their concerns. However,
supplemental services is not a new concept to Greenville County Schools:
for some time, we have had in place many programs that offer services for
students as well as parents. DO I
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