Besides Title I, NCLB provides parents and community leaders other opportunities to become involved in the decision-making process. These programs and opportunities include:

Preparing and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals
Title II, Section 2122 (a) (3) (7); Section 2122(a) (9) (C)

•
 In applying for this program, the local school district must demonstrate and describe how it collaborated with teachers, paraprofessionals, principals and parents in the planning of activities in the application.
•
 The school district application must include ways that it will provide training to teachers to involve parents in their children’s education.

Language Instruction for Limited Proficient and Immigrant Students (for additional information, see LEP Action Brief)
Title III, Section 3113, (b) (3); Section 1116 (b) (4 & 5)

•
 The state must give an assurance that it consulted with school districts, education-related community groups and non-profit organizations, parents, teachers, school administrators and researchers when developing the state achievement objectives expected of limited English proficient students.
•
 Each school district or entity (meaning higher education, community based organization and/or the state education agency) that applies for funds under this program must give a description of how it will promote parental and community participation in programs for LEP children; and that teachers, researchers, administrators and parents, and when appropriate, community groups and nonprofits were consulted in the development of the plan.

Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities
Title IV, Part A, Section 4113 (a) (3, 13 & 17); Section 4114 (c) (A & B)

•
 State applications to receive money designated for safe and drug-free schools and communities programs must provide assurances that:
–
 the application was developed in consultation and coordination with among others parents, students, and representatives of community-based organizations;
 
–
 parental input was sought regarding the use of funds by the SEA and the chief executive officer of the state, how that will be implemented; and
 
–
 the State will monitor the implementation of activities conducted by community-based organizations, other public entities and private organizations.
•
 The school district shall develop its application or funds through timely and meaningful consultation with among others teachers, other school staff, parents, and community-based organizations.
•
 The local school district will coordinate safe and drug-free schools and communities programs with other school and community-based services, community groups, coalitions, and government agencies, and a description about how that will be implemented.
•
 Drug and violence prevention programs may include community-wide planning and organization of activities to reduce violence and illegal drug use, and gang activity prevention

21st Century Community Learning Centers Title IV, Part B, Section 4201 (B) (3); Section 4203(a) (11); Section 4205 (a) (1) (8); Section 4153

•
 Those eligible to apply for 21st century community learning center funds include school districts, community-based organizations, public or private entities, or a consortium of two or more such agencies, organizations, or entities.
•
 When the state develops its application and plan, each state must provide assurances that teachers, parents, students, and representatives of the business community and of community-based organizations were consulted.
•
 When the local school district or entity submits its application and plan to receive money under the 21st Century Learning Community Centers, the local entity or school districtmust describe the  relationship between the local community partners in collaborating to provide before and after school programs; must provide an evaluation of community needs and availability of resources for the Center; and must provide assurance that the community will be given notice of intent to submit the application.
•
 Eligible activities under the 21st century learning community center programs include those that promote parental involvement and family literacy.
•
 Parents may withdraw their children from any Safe and Drug Free-program upon written notification of parents, and the school district is required to make reasonable efforts to inform parents or legal guardians about the content of safe and drug free programs

Charter School Programs
Title V, Part B, Subpart 1, Section 5203 (b) (1); Section 5203 (b) (3) (E); Section 5210 (2); Section 5225 (a) (1 & 2), subpart 3

•
 States applying for assistance under the charter school program must show how they intend to inform teachers, parents, and communities about the program.
•
 States must describe how the charter school will involve parents and other members of the community in the planning, program design, and implementation of the charter school.
•
 Developers eligible to start a charter school at the local level include individuals or groups of individuals (including public or private nonprofit organizations), which may include teachers, administrators, other school staff, parents, or other community members.
•
 In carrying out a charter school program, the chartering entity shall develop its program with the involvement of parents and others in the community to be served and provide for parents in the community to be served information about the program and how the program will operate.


Local Innovative Educational Programs
Title V, Part A, Subpart 3

Every LEA is eligible to receive federal funding under Title V, which encourages school districts to create programs that will promote increased academic achievement. These innovative programs then become part of the district’s overall reform strategy. To receive funding, an LEA must submit an application that identifies the needs of the school district, how the funds will be used, and provisions for systematically consulting with the parents of children who attend elementary and secondary schools in the district or with groups involved in implementing the programs selected. The act identifies 27 uses for the money (such as programs for smaller communities, service learning activities, school safety programs, etc) of which four pertain to community and parental involvement. These are:

  1. Initiatives to generate, maintain and strengthen parental and community involvement;
  2. Academic intervention programs such as student counseling that would be operated jointly with community-based organizations;
  3. Community service programs; and
  4. Adult and family literacy programs

National Assessment of Educational Progress
Title VI, Section 602 & Section 41

•
 Under the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), two parents not employed by a local, state, or federal educational agency and two representatives of the general public, who may be parents but are not employed by a local, state, or federal educational agency, shall serve on the National Assessment Governing Board. This board was created to oversee NAEP, and parents and members of the public may submit written complaints to the Board (Section 412 under the Amendment to the National Education Statistics Act of 1994)
•
 Parents of children participating in NAEP must be notified before an assessment is administered that their child may be excused from the assessment, and that students are not required to answer any test questions. (Section 411 under the Amendment to the National Education Statistics Act of 1994)

 

Unsafe School Choice Option
Title IX, Section 9532

Any student attending a “persistently dangerous” public school must be allowed to transfer to a “safe” public school in the same district. In addition, any student who falls prey to a “violent criminal offense” at school may transfer to a safe public school in the same district. The community and parents should work with state officials to define the terms “safe” and “violent criminal offense,” the definition of which NCLB leaves up to the states. In states that have already defined the terms, the community and parents should be notified of those definitions.

Armed Forces Recruiter Access to Students and Student Recruiting Information
Title IX, Section 9528

Every LEA receiving funds under NCLB must provide military recruiters with the same access to secondary school students as is generally provided to representatives of institutions of higher education or to prospective employers. LEAs receiving funds shall also provide, upon a request made by military recruiters or representatives of an institution of higher education, access to the names, addresses, and telephone listings of secondary school students. A secondary school student, or the parent of the student, can request that the student’s name, address, and telephone listing not be released without prior written parental consent.