Alice Boucher and J.W. Faulk elementary schools have been deemed academically unacceptable. This is the second consecutive year both schools have been rated an "F" by state standards.
State policy requires school districts to offer families to transfer their children to another public school when their zoned school is failing.
Children presently zoned for Boucher and Faulk will be able to transfer to Carencro Heights, Ossun or Prairie Elementary schools. Transportation will be provided.
Parents have until August 12th to decide if they want to exercise this option.
Below, is a press release from the Lafayette Parish School System:
Alice Boucher and JW Faulk deemed Academically Unacceptable
(Lafayette, La.) - Families with students at Alice Boucher and JW Faulk Elementary Schools will be offered the opportunity to transfer to other elementary schools in the district. This after the State's Department of Education preliminary calculations determined both to be Academically Unacceptable.
Academic year 2012-13 saw many productive changes at Alice Boucher and JW Faulk Elementary Schools. At the same time, State Superintendent John White and the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education have substantially revised the state accountability system for the second consecutive year. Since 1999, schools were awarded credit for students who scored Approaching Basic on the LEAP exams and on the iLEAP exams since 2005. This year Approaching Basic contributes no points to the school's overall score.
On Friday, August 2nd, Dr. Cooper announced that he had appointed veteran principal Annette Samec. "We need a strong personality who will lead. There is enough quality staff who understands elementary pedagogy, curriculum, and what we are trying to do to raise the test levels, but we need the presence of a strong leader and administrator," wrote Dr. Cooper in his e-mail to board members.
"These and many additional productive changes on both campuses were initiated last school year and improvements were made, but we are committed to do more to remove the Unacceptable status."
reports Cooper. Parents are being given detailed information on their child's school's status, the
options available to them and steps on how to exercise these options. State policy requires school districts to offer families to transfer their children to another public school when their zoned school is an Academically Unacceptable School (AUS). The Department of Education's preliminary calculations determine that Alice Boucher Elementary is Academically Unacceptable with a School Performance Score of 49.2 and JW Faulk with a School Performance Score of 34.4. Schools must score at least a 50 to be removed from the unacceptable status.
Parents do not have to transfer their child to another school. "If parents want their child to take
advantage of the ongoing changes at Boucher and Faulk Elementary or if they want their child to
continue receiving the specialized programs offered by the World Languages Academy at Boucher, they do not have to apply for a transfer" says Cooper.
Children presently zoned for Boucher and Faulk will be able to transfer to Carencro Heights, Ossun or Prairie Elementary schools. Every effort will be made to give parents their first choice. However, it is dependent upon the school's available space. If all requests cannot be granted, placement will be based on enrollment limits at each school with priority given to those with the lowest test scores. The district will provide transportation to the receiving school until Alice Boucher and JW Faulk are no longer labeled as an Academically Unacceptable School. Parents have until August 12th to decide if they want to exercise this option.
The Lafayette Parish School System has already begun to address the problem of low achievement during the last school year. Our entire district is focused on literacy. At both schools there will be a higher level of focus on reading, writing and math, planning to go above standardized instruction minutes dedicated to reading and math. Specialized strategies to work with students in need of remediation as well as students who excel will be implemented.