184 students seek school transfers

Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 | 10:46 a.m.

Nearly 200 students have sought transfers from their failing schools to higher-performing campuses as allowed under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, Clark County School District officials said.

The federal law requires the district to offer transfers from Title I schools that fail to show adequate yearly progress for at least two consecutive years. Title I schools are located in low-income areas and receive a bigger share of federal dollars.

Of the nine Title I schools in Clark County identified by the state as "needing improvement," the largest exodus was from Bridger Middle School, with 32 requests for student transfers. West Middle School, which is managed for the district by Edison Schools Inc., was next, with 25 transfer requests.

The district had received 184 transfer requests as of Tuesday, said Mark Lange, director of Title I compliance. The law requires the district to set aside 20 percent of its total Title I budget to pay for transportation costs associated with the transfers. The district must also provide remedial services at Carson Elementary School because for the third consecutive year it is on the "needing improvement" list.

A second list of schools identified as needing improvement is expected from the state next week, as test results are completed for the district's year-round campuses, Lange said. That list will include both Title I and regular campuses, Lange said.

Students at year-round Title I schools will also be offered transfers, Lange said.