Three Cherokee County schools were placed in school improvement this fall after not making adequate yearly progress (AYP) for a second straight year under No Child Left Behind.

Blacksburg Primary, Blacksburg Elementary and Mary Bramlett Elementary were placed in school improvement because they are Title-1 schools that did not meet all their federal AYP student targets for two consecutive years. Each school had to develop a 2-year improvement plan.

No Child Left Behind requires all schools to break out their state test results in English and math into different student "subcategories," including ethnicity, special education, poverty and limited ability with English.

Most county elementary schools had 13 objectives to meet AYP. If a school misses even one objective, the school does not meet AYP.

The three county schools were among 185 schools statewide required to offer school choice this fall, but few parents are using this option. Statewide, only 925 of the 87,000 students eligible last year to transfer under No Child Left Behind actually changed schools.

"We haven't see many students change schools. Parents like neighborhood schools and

seem more comfortable with their children attending schools in their community," district chief academic officer Dr. Linda Sellars said.

Each school must commit at least 10 percent of its Title 1 funds for staff development. The improvement plan must address efforts to provide students more learning time before and after school and how scientific research will be included in classroom instruction.

"The schools will have two years to get out of school

improvement. We are focused on rigor and moving each student to a higher level of achievement," Sellars said.

Title-1 schools placed in school improvement must offer the choice of sending their children to another school in the district. If a school does not make AYP the following year, the school must offer students tutoring as well as school choice.

More severe consequences follow for Title 1 schools that continue to not get out of school improvement.