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 Bureau of Federal Educational Programs 

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Public School Options

Lisa Bacen
Bureau Chief
325 W. Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400


Phone: (850) 245-9939



Mission

The mission of this office is to lead statewide efforts to close the achievement gaps affecting students whose educational opportunities are limited by low-performing schools, to increase awareness among parents and other community members about public school options in Florida and to ensure all students are well-served and No Student Is Left Behind.

Title I, Part A, Choice

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act amended the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 in ways to strengthen parent involvement and choice in education. The most critical amendments focus attention and resources on improving low-performing schools and providing access for all students to high quality education. Under NCLB, when schools do not meet state targets for improving the achievement of all students, parents have better options, including the opportunity to send their child to another school. Parents whose children are enrolled in Title I schools that are identified in need of improvement, corrective action, or restructuring have the opportunity to transfer their children to a higher-performing school.

Parents of students enrolled in schools in need of improvement, corrective action, or restructuring may also have the opportunity for their children to receive supplemental educational services (SES), which are tutoring and other academic enrichment services provided outside the regular school day and designed to enable children from low-income families to reach academic proficiency. The opportunity to obtain SES is another parental choice component of NCLB and is available to eligible students who are enrolled in schools in the second year of school improvement, corrective action, or restructuring. When both options are available, parents may choose the option that most effectively meets the needs of their child.

A student is generally eligible for SES if he or she receives free or reduced-price lunch and attends a Title I school identified by the state as not meeting state targets for improving the achievement of all students for at least three consecutive years. Eligible families choose an SES provider from a list developed by the state, and school districts pay for the tutoring services.

We want to improve Florida's K-12 education:

  • by empowering parents, particularly in low-income families to choose the education they determine is best for their children;
  • by providing information and resources for school choice issues; and
  • by promoting excellence in education by encouraging competition of supplemental education service providers

Title I, Part A, Choice funds may be used for the following:

  • Supplemental Educational Services
  • Public School Choice with Transportation

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Additional Resources

For Further Information Please Contact:

  • District Program Contact Directory
    This link provides a directory of district contacts and coordinators for various programs including Title I, Parent Involvement, Controlled Open Enrollment, NCLB School Choice with Transportation, and Supplemental Educational Services.