Few choose other schools under 'Left Behind' law

Six Columbia County pupils will move out of the county's three Title I schools through the "choice" provision of the No Child Left Behind Law.

Nine had applied, but when notified by school officials, three declined.

One of the fears critics of choice have is that only the good students would leave those schools - their parents would be interested enough in their education to switch them. That seems to be the case in Columbia County, though because the numbers are so small, it will not have that great an impact, said Gloria Hamilton, Title I instructional improvement director.

"They are all pretty good students," Hamilton said. "Everybody thought: 'Oh, what if all the good students move?' That's not going to happen. The numbers are so low, there's not much of an impact."

Those children who are relocating include two from Grovetown Elementary School, one from North Harlem Elementary School and three from Euchee Creek Elementary School. The three third-graders were placed in South Columbia Elementary School, one fifth-grader will attend Brookwood Elementary School, and one fifth-grader will attend Westmont Elementary School. One kindergartner will be placed at Evans Elementary School.

Aug. 20 was the deadline for parents to apply for choice.

The pupils were placed in schools that had room available at that grade level.

Parents are responsible for providing transportation to the choice school and the county will reimburse them 28 cents per mile. Choice is granted on a year-to-year basis. If a school meets performance standards this year, then a pupil would have to return to their home school next year.