July 11, 2007

Focus on targets, not funding

CAROL VERAVANICH
Register columnist
EDUCATION

Q. I teach at a middle school that has recently been labeled as a Project Improvement School. Since then, we have been having a long discussion over the rules and practices concerning the acceptance of government funds.

Schools that receive federal aid for low-income students (known as Title I) are subject to the consequences. Can a public school turn down Title I funds so it does not have to live by the consequences? Are there alternatives to not taking this funding?

A. First, the state of California sets the targets that your school is not meeting, so turning down a federal program is not going to help you too much.

I had to confirm my thoughts with someone who knows school finance so I turned to California State University, Fullerton's Louise Adler. She confirmed that, "Title I is a federal grant program. The decision about whether to accept the funding would have to be made at the district level. Districts may have to accept the funding in order to get some types of state funding as well. Clearly, it is not a decision that can be made at the school level."

Your school will have to continue brainstorming, but you might want to focus on meeting the targets rather than trying to find ways not to accept funds.

Q. I read your response to the parents who wanted to home school and have their student play CIF. Placentia Yorba Linda Unified School District has an independent study program for families who choose to home school. Students can play sports, participate in school activities likes dances, and take up to two classes at a high school, middle school, or elementary school. It is an excellent program. All materials, lessons, and a credentialed teacher are provided. Go to parkviewpylusd.org for more information.

A. These are the types of independent/home study programs that I mentioned last week. These programs are run by school districts, and this means someone is monitoring the progress of the children being home schooled.

Other districts have these programs as well. Capistrano Unified School District has a respected program called Capistrano Home Outreach Option for Student Education (CHOOSE). http://www.capousd.org/choose/. It provides the same benefits as those you mentioned for PYLUSD.

It is important that parents choosing home schooling consider these programs. These programs provide support, oversight, materials, and opportunities for students to interact with each other — not to mention the fact that these home school students are then able to participate in athletics, clubs, and other activities.

Do you have a question about your child's education? Carol Veravanich is an experienced teacher and assistant principal who answers readers' questions each Wednesday. Contact her at goasktheteacher@yahoo.com