It may not be the most elegant of acronyms, but it requires your attention, nonetheless. The SNOR is the vehicle used by the California Department of Education to collect the annual count of eligible immigrant students, as required by Title III of the federal, No Child Left Behind Act. The count is used as a factor in the determination of funding of Title III programs, some of which include provisions for the participation of private school students and teachers.

Who gets counted as an "Immigrant Student?"

Students enrolled in grades K-12 who are (1) foreign born, and (2) have been enrolled in school in the United States for three full years or less are considered eligible immigrant students.

When do I need to file the SNOR?

The SNOR form should be submitted to the California Department of Education no later than April 1, 2003.

How do I access the SNOR form?

The SNOR report packet, consisting of the SNOR Form (make sure you request the private school version!) and the Directory of National Origin Names & Alphanumeric Codes, together with instructions for completion and submittal, can be downloaded at the CDE web site.

Is it complicated?

The form is quite simple, asking for the name of your school, your school's code number, the name of a contact person at your school, and the number of eligible immigrant students designated by country. You will, of course, need to know how many of your students meet the eligibility requirements along with their countries of origin.

What happens if I don't complete the SNOR?

Failure to file the SNOR may result in the loss of eligibility to participate in programs funded by Title III. Even if your school has no interest in participating, failure to complete the SNOR will reduce the level of funding available to all qualifying students and teachers in California.

To Whom do I send the completed SNOR?

The completed SNOR form should be sent via first class mail to:

Jan Mayer
Language Policy and Leadership Ofice
California Department of Education, Suite 4309
Post Office Box 944272
Sacramento, CA 94244-2720