Thousands of Buffalo Public School children now eligible to request a transfer out what are deemed failing schools. WBFO'S Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley talked with a parent leader who explains the transfer period is underway through the end of this month.
"27,000 parents should have received a letter, sometime in the last week, basically stating that if your child goes to a priority or focused school, and you have the right to transfer to a school in good standing," Sam Radford, President of Buffalo's District Parent Coordinating Council.
Radford said with expected changes to 'No Child Left Behind Legislation', this might be the last chance for parents to transfer their child out of poor performing schools.
"All you need to do is go on the buffaloschools.org website and press the 'No Child Left Behind' link," said Radford.
But WBFO News asked Radford how parents who have no access to computers or on-line data would be able to place their child on the transfer list.
"You make a great point," said Radford. "We sent a letter to today (Monday) to Superintendent Ogilvie asking him why there is only one option on how to apply. Only five percent of the parents are on the parent portal."
In the 2013-14 school year more than 2,000 students requested transfers, but the district couldn't accommodate all of them at once. Radford is now concerned some students could be blocked out again from transferring into various schools.
"The school district has not included City Honors or Olmsted as options this year, so we've asked the school board president as well as the superintendent to explain to us why they haven't included City Honors or Olmsted as options so people could transfer to," stated Radford.
Radford also pointed to a new school options proposal, submitted by the Buffalo School Board majority. Radford said it could create more seats for students who want to transfer.
Seats that could be created in new school options proposed by BOE majority include:
· Annexing City Honors, Hutch Tech and DaVinci.
· Expansion of Emerson and Middle Early College
· Creation of pre-K-4th at Performing Arts
· Creation of a Montessori 5th -12th Middle/High School
· Expansion of charter school seats at Charter School for Applied Technology and Health Science Charter School in District Buildings.
There are 45-failing priority and focused schools.
