Suffolk picks alternatives to schools that fell short

SUFFOLK

Depending on what parents decide, Booker T. Washington and Kilby Shores elementary schools could see boosts in enrollment this fall.

Suffolk school officials selected them as transfer options for students slated to attend three schools that didn't meet federal targets for two consecutive years.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, schools that accept Title I federal funding for low-income students and do not make "adequate yearly progress" on state tests can face sanctions, including school choice.

This year, students at Elephant's Fork, Mack Benn Jr. and Mount Zion elementary schools are being given the option to move.

The choices, Booker T. Washington and Kilby Shores, are both Title I schools that met federal benchmarks. They were selected based on their proximity to the affected schools and their diversity, said Deputy Superintendent Deran Whitney. Transportation will be provided.

Letters were mailed home Thursday to inform parents. The decision to transfer - which must be made no later than Aug. 31 - is optional, and priority is given to the lowest-achieving students, Whitney said.

Elephant's Fork was the only Suffolk school required to offer school choice in 2008. Six students opted to move to Mack Benn Jr., Whitney said.

Most parents stuck with Elephant's Fork because "they know that we have a lot of good things going on here," Principal Veleka Gatling said.

"Progress takes work."

Hattie Brown Garrow, (757) 222-5562, hattie.brown@pilotonline.com