Submitted by Debra Hamel-Kearney
on 10/12/04 8:21 AM
In reply to your question as to how NCLB choice programs are working, I can speak for the Southwestern Corner of New Hampshire and say that thanks to a large Federal Grant that was awarded in the fall of 2002, the Monadnock Region Public Schools of Choice Program is able to bring a small-town approach to voluntary public school choice. The grant was for $11 million over five years.
Our area of the state is rural, and the MRPSOC program brings together four school districts - offering open enrollment among the four regional high schools and supporting planning and development of four to five more appropriately scaled alternative high schools or school-within-a school programs. Education funding in the State of NH is a major issue, and in this corner of the state funds are very very tight.
This grant was awarded to, I believe, 13 districts in the US. NH is very fortunate to have received these monies. Some of the school choice options that it has made available are: Virtual High School for grades 9-12, Monadnock Community Connections (MC2) a small school that encourages self-directed and experiential learning for students in grades 9-12, an Arts and Academics program at Keene Middle school offering students in grades 6-8 an array of arts programs in addition to traditional middle school curricula. MRPSOC is supporting existing schools so they can offer even more to their existing students.
MRPSOC is entering its third year of the grant. The grant is under CFDA No. 84.361, which states that this program provides grants to establish or expand a program of Voluntary Public School Choice in order to provide parents, particularly parents whose children attend low-performing schools, with greater choice in their children’s education. The Project establishes a partnership that implements an interdistrict approach to carrying out a Public School Choice program.
MRPSOC works with Doug Hall of the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy to put together data and information regarding this program.
MRPSOC works with Keene State College and Antioch New England Institute as well. One of the choice options is letting Jr's and Sr's with a certain grade level take accredited college courses.
It would be great if this grant could be used as a 'model' across the state. Without the large Grant could this much have been done in such a short time? I cannot answer that - I know the budgets are tight here. What is a positive though for others across our state, is they can look at the Grant proposal, they can look at the data, they can learn from the successes and failures that MRPSOC has encountered. It would be wonderful if voluntary public school choice programs could be replicated throughout the state based on lessons learned from receiving this Grant. The biggest thing is being open to choice options and innovative ideas, at least looking at options on what could work, and if it can't work, how could it be tweaked to work.
The most important aspect was developing community awareness and support. They began with a Vision to Action forum of community members. They send out newsletters letting citizens and parents know what is available. They have a monthly spot on a local radio talkshow.
The towns in southwestern NH are very different from each other, although close in proximity. Several students have used the option to transfer from their High School to another one in the district.
Transportation is critical. We are a very rural area and MRPSOC is currently supporting transportation logistics and costs for students who are transferring from one school to another and who request transportation.
Again...there was a very large Federal Grant awarded to make many of these things happen. However, much can be learned from these innovative options and at least give other communities a starting point, something to look at. The website is www.mrpsoc.org.
