By Jennifer Mrozowski
Enquirer staff writer

Alex Haarman, 6, looks up at the front of the College Hill Preparatory Academy as he arrives for his first full day of school. Alex was moved by his parents from another school in the Cincinnati Public Schools they didn't like, making the move based on the No Child Left Behind legislation. (Craig Ruttle/The Enquirer)

NORTHSIDE - Bob Haarman was so fed up with one Cincinnati public school that he kept his son home the first day hoping that the federal No Child Left Behind Act would allow him to transfer his kid out.

After a half-dozen phone calls, he got his wish. His 6-year-old son, Alex, transferred to College Hill Fundamental Academy last week, another Cincinnati Public school, under a provision of the law that allows parents to transfer their children from under-performing schools.

"I love it," said Bob's wife, Linda. "It's great. He's interested in school and wants to go now. I don't fight with him anymore. He wakes me up to go to school."

Thirty-four schools that are considered under-performing in Cincinnati Public Schools have to offer parents the option to transfer to an achieving school. Schools that have to offer the transfer option haven't met federal student achievement goals two years in a row.

But very few parents here have transferred their children since No Child Left Behind was signed by President Bush in 2002.

Thousands of Cincinnati students have been eligible for the transfer over the last two years, but parents of just 55 students exercised that option. Just three more this year, including the Haarmans, decided to transfer their children so far. Some schools will notify parents of the option next week.

"If you look at it from a parent's point of view, if a child is doing well academically and is happy, there is really no educational reason to move him," said Jo Anne Friedmann, Cincinnati school district's compliance officer for federal programs.

Friedmann also said that school stability is big factor for academic success. She said parents should consider how well their child is doing as well as the school's passage rates before considering transferring.

The Haarmans, however, felt their son was struggling at Kirby Road, his neighborhood school. They said he didn't enjoy school last year and frequently was in trouble.

They hit their boiling point when Alex got in trouble with a substitute teacher and was told to go to the office. Instead, Alex told the sub he was going home, Linda said.

"And that's what he did."

She only learned her son, then age 5, had left school when she came to pick him up at the end of the day. Linda said she asked the substitute where Alex was, and the sub told her she sent him to the office. But the principal hadn't seen Alex, Linda said.

She and the school staff frantically searched for him, but the police found him walking on busy Hamilton Avenue in Northside. Alex was gone about four hours after stopping at home and a store and then deciding to walk to his sister's school in Mount Healthy, Bob said.

The Haarmans said they kept him out of school for about a week.

District spokeswoman Janet Walsh said Kirby Road, along with the other schools that haven't met their achievement goals, have outlined plans to help their students succeed.

The Haarmans say they are thrilled with College Hill.

On Alex's first day, Principal Glenda Bauer greeted him.

College Hill students wear uniforms, are expected to behave appropriately and attend school every day, Bauer said.

"We believe if they are here every day, we can teach any student," she said.

Bob said Alex is excited about his schoolwork. Linda said Alex has misbehaved a few times in class, but his teacher Patti Hays is working with him.

"It seems like they thoroughly care," Bob said.

E-mail jmrozowski@enquirer.com