Baltimore County targets elementary schools with NCLB funds

 Some Baltimore County students are losing the option to transfer out of failing neighborhood schools—the result of the system's decision to stop giving its middle schools federal money aimed at concentrations of low-income students.

By choosing to spend all its federal Title I funds in the county's elementary schools starting next month, the school system will no longer be obligated under the federal No Child Left Behind law to provide transfers to students in its six failing middle schools. Middle school students who have already transferred under No Child Left Behind can remain at their new schools, but no new transfers will be permitted. Nearly 300 middle-schoolers transferred this year, compared with about 70 two years ago.

Officials said the change is intended to increase programs and services for more of the system's youngest children, and not to skirt the requirements of No Child Left Behind. Read more in The Baltimore Sun online.