City schools plan changes to open enrollment system
School Board Representative Carol Wolf has written a letter to Richmond residents about proposed changes to the current open enrollment policies in Richmond Public Schools:
Dear Neighbors and Friends,The Richmond Public School Board is considering changes to the current open enrollment policies. I would appreciate it if you would review this proposed draft document and share your suggestions and concerns.
This draft procedure is being sent to principals for their feedback and I ask that parents and teachers weigh in as well. This is an effort on the part of the Legal, Legislative, Policy and Communications Committee to clarify and adjust open enrollment since out-of-zone transportation was virtually eliminated in the 2007/2008 budget.
Any new open enrollment procedure would not take effect until the 2009/2010 school year, but because the application process would begin this year, the school board hopes to adopt a procedure this fall.
Please let me know your thoughts, either on this blog or by e-mailing me directly at Wolfies@aol.com. Please send your comments by Friday, August 15 so that we may include them in the August committee meeting.
You are, of course, welcome to attend the August LLPC meeting to assist with revising this draft. It will be held in the 17th floor committee room on 8/21 at 11:30 a.m.
DRAFT-DRAFT-DRAFT PROPOSAL-DRAFT
Proposed Procedure for Open Enrollment
2009-2010 School Year
DRAFT–FOR PARENT & TEACHER COMMENT“RPS has a goal of making all schools exemplary. Each school has a focus on the success of all students, supported by a comprehensive system of needs analysis based on the school’s vision, goals, and data that drive priorities, objectives, and programs offered. “While children are encouraged to attend neighborhood schools, school choice remains an option. Students may apply to attend other schools with acceptance prioritized according to the following: “Priority 1 – Request for transfer from a low-performing school to a higher performing school Under NCLB, children attending a low-performing school may submit a request for placement in a higher performing school. “Priority 2 – Request for special permission to attend an Out of Zone school “Elementary: Parents may apply to any school with acceptance based on space availability through a lottery. Transportation is not provided. Any approved form is contingent on the parents providing transportation to and from school, the student’s regular and prompt attendance, and observation of school rules and regulations. “Special permission may be revoked if these contingencies are not adhered to. Special permission is granted for one year at a time. “In cases of unexpectedly larger school and/or class enrollment, principals may withdraw out-of-zone permission prior to the opening of school. Parents will receive written notice five days prior to withdrawal. “Secondary – Parents may apply to any school with acceptance based on space availability through a lottery. Transportation is not provided. Any approved form is contingent on the parents providing transportation to and from school, the student’s regular and prompt attendance, and observation of school rules and regulations. “Special permission may be revoked if these contingencies are not adhered to. Special permission is granted for one year at a time. “Request to attend a specialty secondary school/program. Rising 6th graders may apply to the Middle School IB program. Acceptance at this program is based on the students’ academic, behavioral, and extracurricu8lar performance. Rising 9th graders may apply to any or all of the High School Specialty Programs. Acceptance at these programs is based on the student’s academic, behavioral, and extracurricular performance. “While preference is given to rising 9th graders, consideration may be given to rising 10th graders who excel academically and have accrued sufficient credits to qualify as 10th graders in the specialty program.”
Can you blame them? What does RPS have to offer? The altruist is also capable of a panic attack.
teacher,
‘Tis been said, “facts are stubborn things.” If you view my insistence upon facts as argumentative, then please know that I gladly accept your observation as a compliment.
As to describing me as “trenchant,” I thank you for that compliment as well.
trench·ant
–adjective 1. incisive or keen, as language or a person; caustic; cutting: trenchant wit.
2. vigorous; effective; energetic: a trenchant policy of political reform.
3. clearly or sharply defined; clear-cut; distinct.
Now, can we get back to the business of discussing open enrollment policies?
BTW, Gray, thanks for the support! I absolutely agree that we should offer our highly-qualified teachers — young and old — signing bonuses and increased pay for renewing their contracts.
I, too, am tired of losing our best and brightest to the counties. A telephone call to principals David Hudson (Holton), Michael Kight (Hill), Denise Lewis (Brown) and former Henderson principal Dr. Dionne Ward (now asst. Supt. for Secondary Education), will also confirm that I successfully fought to increase their pay as well, lest we lose their talents to the counties. ~CW
Carol Wolf,
We need more like you on Board, especially in the struggling zones. Now if we can get those representing the cushier zones to fight for the poor ones or to atleast see and acknowledge the major differences between schools -how one elementary school will have an entire computer lab whereas another school is lucky to have one working computer in the classroom or how some schools retain their teachers when others witness a yearly mass exodus. Another awful difference is how lesser qualified staff armed only with multiple choice tests and the zero tolerance displinary policy are sent to work in poorer schools. Under such crappy care and inept leadership, students are criminalized for normal childhood behaviors, hence the extremely high suspension rates at the elementary level.
For those who believe all schools offer an “exemplary” education, I ask of you to hang out for atleast one full day in a poor school, in a rich school, then in a diverse school with an exceptional leader. Choose a day after January when the SOL ever nine week testing begins. Drop in unexpectantly and don’t allow the principal to alert the staff. Have lunch in the cafeteria. And if it is library day, chances are you’ll get to see a movie or another worksheet.
Well, there you go misunderstanding the context of things. I certainly meant it in the spirit of caustic, vitriolic, and ignoble.
Good for you raising principal’s salaries while the fact remains for the last several years teacher salaries haven’t kept up with inflation and the changing of the steps has meant that teachers have up to 8 years of experience are only making 2,000 more than those with zero experience. Ridiculous!
Gray, although I agree with many things you say, may I have your work address so I can drop in on you unexpectedly sometime and critique your work? I’m sure I am as qualified to critique your work as you are mine.
I’m certain you would enjoy that as much as I do.
Mrs. Wolf, we don’t need more of arguing, we need more effective leadership.
Frankly, I’d like to know what qualifies you to run a school system anyway? Do you have a degree in anything related to education or public administration? Do you even have an advanced degree?
If not, why not step aside for someone qualified? You wouldn’t push a heart surgeon aside to complete a bypass now would you? So why do that here when education is so important to so many?
Of course there is a time to fight, but making peace and collaborating can sure get a lot more done, but that appears to be something you’ve not learned in addition to how to secure enough names to get on the ballot.
But hey, I’m the ignoramus here, right?
Hey teacher,
You’re watching and educating our children and our tax dollars are paying your salary, so yes we should be able to drop in and see what is going on anytime we want. When parents look for a pediatrician or a babysitter, do they just hire anyone and not bother with recommendations?
I’ll tell you what teach, when you leave your children with me and pay my salary, I’ll let you come in and critique my work.
Then why require qualification and licensing if anyone can come off the street and accurately evaluate what we do?
Because you went to school doesn’t mean you have a clue as to what goes on on the other side of the desk.
Of course you listen to recommendations, but that doesn’t mean you take the doctor’s stethoscope and show him how to use it. Somehow, people think they know everything about education without the slightest bit of research or practice.
Certainly if the doctor is pulling out the bone saw when you need a wart removed, you can tell something is wrong, but parents come in a building, get a snapshot that may not represent the daily routine and then go blathering about how awful things seem. You wouldn’t take a surgeon’s license away because a patient dies on the table, but you want a teacher’s blood if a student drops out.
The 50 cents your taxes contribute to my salary doesn’t entitle you to be my boss or qualify you to critique me on a professional level.
Think about the golden rule. You basically admitted you refuse to follow it. You don’t want me to drop in on your work anytime unannounced and critique you, then don’t do it to us.
After all, your presence is more likely to disrupt the flow of the classroom than assist. Otherwise, I’d be happy to come look over your shoulder at work and see if you are equally productive.
No, we have nothing to hide, though some bad teachers might, but we deserve the same amount of respect you do. Don’t we?
Enjoy the Olympics!
Pay my salary teacher then you can drop in on my work.
I’m not watching the Olympics.
Where do you teach teacher? You know that I’m a parent of RPS kids but I’m not convinced of who you are.
Teacher,
In post #15, you said yourself, “Why not go to a school, walk around, and document who is not doing his job?”
teacher, teacher, teacher …
This name-calling game of yours must stop. Surely you recall that old saying that mothers (and good teachers) have taught young children to say when they encounter name-calling-bullies: “I’m rubber and you’re glue, what you say bounces off me and sticks on you.”
Enough, already. You conveniently ignore facts and when presented a dictionary definition of a word you used, let loose with a string of angry epithets. I have apologized to the citizens of the Third District and the City of Richmond for failing to turn the required number of signatures. I take total responsibility.
Most people have not only accepted my apology and explanation, but have expressed thanks for my hard work on the board and sorrow that the politics of City Hall and School Board might deny them my leadership. But those who follow the news know that in addition to dissenting from certain actions of the School Board and City Administration, I have led my board to several key 9-to-nuthin’ votes and have helped to bring in millions dollars to our school system, notably several million of medicare/medicaid funds that went unclaimed until I arrived on the board and most recently $7 million in ADA funding.
Your comments to Gray reveal that you don’t much care for parents who have legitimate questions about how you do your job. Your comments to me reveal you don’t much like the idea that citizens might elect someone who doesn’t have an “advanced” degree who stubbornly believes FACTS — and not collaborative fictions should be used when making decisions about our children and our tax dollars.
Unlike in China, where dissenters who dare to question the actions of government are jailed (or worse), the right to dissent is as American as the 4th of July. This right is preserved in our judicial system where “dissenting” legal opinions have frequently proven to be prescient to future generations.
One of the things I dearly love about America is that people can have differing opinions. You have a right to yours and others have a right to theirs. Yet, it seems obvious that even if I could walk on water, you would complain that WOLF can’t swim.
Teaching is a noble profession, but it does not give you the right to insult the parents and citizens who elected me to make sure that those entrusted with our children and our tax dollars are doing what they are supposed to do.
Could we please have a higher level of discourse here, one that seeks facts and solutions? ~ CWolf
It seems to me that teacher is a fantastic example of what is wrong with the whole school system- insulting, resistant to change, and defensive to the end about how only professionals can run the system. If that’s so, then what would you call the people that have been running the sytstem until now? Professional is not a word I would use.
It seems to me both sides have traded insults here.
If not professionals, then who? Is Joe or Jane Public qualified to run a school system?
I’m not advocating a lack of public input, I’m supporting a system that makes sense. One ran by people who are qualified to do so. If all you are bringing to the table is a high school diploma, then I don’t think you have any business deciding what happens with 250 million a year in tax funds.
Why is education the only business that everyone thinks they are qualified to do?
Mrs. Wolf, have you ever been a teacher?
Of course your entitled to your opinion and misinterpretation, but it doesn’t mean we have to listen to it.
Yes, I said go to the schools and see what’s happening. No, I did not say drop in unannounced. No, I have nothing to hide and I welcome parental involvement. However, if you think I am going to let someone who lacks knowledge about how to do my job tell me how to do it then you are out of your mind.
Hasn’t there been enough failure caused by an elected school board to signify a growing need for people qualified to do the job? Look at the president for a fine example.
Let’s take the Personalized Education Plan for example. How do you plan to implement something like that effectively? It’s hard enough for teachers and administrators to get an IEP done right and now you want the equivalent of one for every student? Are you sure you know what you’re doing?
Can’t get ADA compliance, but there is money for this that and the next principal’s salary.
I don’t think a level of respect for teachers equivocates a disrespect for parents who have legitimate questions.
You ought to read Socrates. He would have told you to let those qualified lead. I don’t think that kind of logic can be argued with, but if you want, suit yourself. Clearly, you are unqualified. Why not accept that?
Mrs. Wolf, I am beginning to suspect that you are an egotistical, cavalier, know-it-all, whose unilateral decision making processes have only contributed to the fragmented system you have left us.
Seems to me Wolf is wasting her time trying to reason with people who aren’t inclined to listen.
Teacher,
I am beginning to suspect that you are a cyber-bully and an ignoranus. Get ovah, yerself ….
I’m sure this is a mild discussion as far as public weblog communities go, but I’d appreciate it if folks would stick to the issues and topics without slipping in digs and asides about each other.
I can always just turn comments off and make this a dull, one-way community news board. I’d prefer if it were a two-way, community-driven discussion instead.
Thanks,
Your friendly neighborhood weblog editor
Teacher said, “No, I did not say drop in unannounced. No, I have nothing to hide and I welcome parental involvement. However, if you think I am going to let someone who lacks knowledge about how to do my job tell me how to do it then you are out of your mind.”
Teacher, in my post #53, I was suggesting unannounced visits so one can see the differences in the schools over all, not to critique an individual teacher and tell her what to do. No where did I say that. Also you should know that many RPS claim to have an open door policy, meaning parents can stop in whenever they want (within reason).
I agree with teacher on the IEPs for every child. RPS still hasn’t figured out how to do this well with the special needs students. Matter of fact, I spoke with a father last night who is pulling his slightly autistic daughter out of RPS because he said, “her IEPs have been crappy.” His family is moving to Henrico this month.
IEPs also require parental involvement, something that is lacking in our neighborhood school. A teacher told me that only four parents showed up to one of the parent teacher conferences. That is four out of sixteen students with parents giving a damn.
Speaking of “lacking knowledge,” we have a School Board member unable to write using correct grammar and the nine week tests downtown administrators dole out to the schools are filled with gross errors, misspellings, and poorly written paragraphs missing verbs. I counted atleast eleven errors on one of my daughter’s nine week tests.
Two candidates I know running for School Board are incapable of writing a coherent sentence. We should ask all candidates to write an essay in class giving us reasons why we should elect them to School Board.
I know people who are administrators that are illiterate, both downtown and at the building level. Yet, it has always been my experience that administrators seem to believe they don’t need to communicate. Instead they hand down their great ideas.
I apologize if this has become an unbearable bickering fest, but the fact is that West and Wolf dissent when everyone else agrees. See their votes against Braxton for board president as well as their votes against Jewell-Sherman’s 2008-2009 budget.
I’m not saying they don’t have good ideas, I am saying they don’t know how and when to collaborate.
I am also saying that if Richmond wasn’t the home of the crony, an appointed school board could work. That is if people who are most qualified for the job could be appointed rather than so and so’s buddy.
Additionally, just walking into a classroom is a serious security issue. Teachers and students have been attacked by unruly parents.
I hear you on the people running for board. I was at the forum for them a couple weeks ago and some of what they had to say was such a clear view of their total lack of qualification that I couldn’t believe it.
Back to the original point of this thread… school choice…. why should one school be so much worse than another that someone needs a choice? Shouldn’t they be equally good. If not, shouldn’t we move those people who are doing a great job to the places that need their leadership? It’s almost a joke that our best teachers get positions that they least need and our weakest teachers get the toughest spots. Schools that no one wants to work at are usually filled by new teachers. In high schools, new teachers usually get the more difficult classes to teach. There is something wrong with our culture in schools. Not all of them, but quite a few.
And some of those “toughest spots” are filled with substitutes -downtown doesn’t even bother to send the school full time teachers. This is happening at a middle school in our end of town.
I like Wolf -she really is serving in the best interest of RPS students and I wouldn’t want her to agree with a group when they are wrong.
Right now I’m down on West. I don’t like it that he is working for vouchers, i.e., dismantling RPS while serving on School Board. Check out the link in post #24.
I’m familiar with it but school uniforms is a great idea for our students. They need to be prepared for the work force.
I also oppose uniforms. Here is the link to that thread http://chpn.net/news/2008/06/30/goldman-and-west-to-propose-school-uniform-policy/ .
Self expression is important; however, conformity is also necessary. Uniform allow students to look beyond dress and what dress indicates to focus on those elements that are needed to excel in school and on the world’s stage. Making learning first and foremost is essential for children to work within educational settings that promote the learning, personal development, self reliance, self expression, and the acquisition of knowledge with understanding. Uniforms lifts many of the stigmas that are used to pigeon hold our children. Educators and children frequently view dress as a window into another’s life style, net worth and statue in our neighborhoods. To some, this strengthens the standings of a child with a favorable lifestyle and home life from those of humble surroundings. Thus the first step of condemnation that many never overcome is realized by children that lack the clothing of fellow classmates. Uniforms help place children on equal standing in the learning environment. Once a solid educational foundation is established (solid foundation) and the outer cover is not so important, moving away from uniforms would be appropriate.
Uniforms are only one issue that needs to be addressed. There needs to be a citywide Richmond Public School’s dress code. Watching children leaving schools with boys’ pants sagging and girls wearing revealing clothing says to the public that our children are not ready to enter the world of work, professional development or higher education. Therefore, my recommendation is that uniforms should be worn until 9th grade and strict dress code through high school.
Roxie,
See my comment at the CHPN thread. I think you’d agree.
We are thinking about selling our house because we are nervous about this “open enrollment” policy. What if the School Board eliminates it?
Dear Mom4Ever,
Please don’t put a “For Sale” sign in your yard because you are nervous about an elimination of this policy/changes in it might mean.
I have heard from many people with great questions about it and I promise we’ll air all concerns and have some answers when the LLPC Committee meets on this topic on 8/28/08 @ 11:30 pm on the 17th Floor of City Hall.
If you want to post your specific questions on this site, feel free. If you would like to send them to me directly, my e-mail address is Wolfies@aol.com. You can also call me at 264-8015 if you like.
Thanks,
Carol Wolf
Third District School Board Member
I accidentally typed Mom4Ever’s info in the “name” line instead of my own. Apparently, we must both be AOL users.
Forgive me, Mom.
I wonder if mom4ever is willing to say this to the parents of the students at the school her child is zoned for?
Would it sound something like, “We’re moving because we don’t want our children to be exposed to yours.”
Or maybe, “Our little angel is too good to be corrupted by your little devils.”
Or maybe, “Not my child.” “Not with those people.”
Or am I missing something?
Mom4ever,
May I suggest that you should simply send your concerns to me directly? I have heard from several parents who have legitimate concerns about proposed changes to this policy.
Every parent must make the best decisions they can for each individual child. No one — and no entity — has a right to second-guess a parent who is simply concerned about what will be best for their child or children.
Please know that our School Board Committee is looking for ways to give parents more choice and more reasons to send, and to continue to send their children to our schools.
Respectfully,
Carol Wolf
My children have attended excellent RPS schools through No Child Left Behind. I have never asked for a favor, but worked within the system to assure they have attended accredited schools. NCLB guarantees bus service, as well, by Federal Law.
If you live in an area that does have an accredited school, I urge you to check out that school. RPS has really been given a black eye and you might find that your neighborhood school is really very good. You don’t have to attend Fox to receive a great education in the city.
Right on edg!
Now that’s the most reasonable thing I have heard in a while.
School choice is what has lead to de facto segregation and the fact that our school board members encourage this is absolutely appalling. Having lived in a large city where diversity is embraced, I can only feel ashamed of the status quo where city council members cite that schools like Fox, Mumford, Open, and Community are great schools. These schools serve less than ten percent of our students. Why shouldn’t ninety percent of our students attend great schools?
If the administration is so great at those schools, then put them at our worst schools and get them turned around.
As an addendum, school uniforms are in at Greene. It’s too bad RPS did its usual job of not communicating with enough of the parents, so they are shocked and have spent money on school clothes already. However, I’m glad they are starting this cultural shift away from parents being pressured by their children to purchase the fashions their kids have been brainwashed into thinking are cool. I hope they will follow through by having the middle and high school these children feed into become uniform schools as well. If I had a dollar for every time a child wore something inappropriate, made a nasty comment about another students clothes, wore something expensive but came to class without materials, I’d be making the level of pay I should be for being the foundation of society.
Good point, edg, but if all the city’s elementary and high schools are accredited, why is RPS still transporting kids under NCLB, that notorious UNFUNDED mandate?
NCLB only applies if the zoned school is not accredited. I was trying to encourage reader to attend their local accredited school, and if there isn’t one, to use the NCLB program to place their children into an accredited school.
I agree and thanks for the information.
My children have attended Mary Scott, Ginter Park, Henderson and Community. All have received excellent educations!
Dear Neighbors & Friends,
If you want your questions answered in advance, today is the last call for questions about the proposed changes to the Open Enrollment policy.
The LLPC [Legal, Legislative, Policy & Communications] Committee meets on this topic on 8/28/08 @ 11:30 pm on the 17th Floor of City Hall.
I thank everyone who has taken the time to consider this policy and ask thoughtful questions. I have received tremendous response both on this site and at my home e-mail: Wolfies@aol.com.
If you want answers sent to your personal e-mails, please forward your requests. Those who have already sent questions to Wolfies@aol.com will receive answers at the personal e-mails, otherwise, please check back to this site on Wednesday for answers.
If you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to contact me by e-mail or to call 264-8015 and leave a message.
Thank you once again for your tremendous response to this issue.
Respectfully,
Carol A.O. Wolf
Third District Member
Richmond School Board
edg said:
“NCLB only applies if the zoned school is not accredited. I was trying to encourage reader to attend their local accredited school, and if there isn’t one, to use the NCLB program to place their children into an accredited school.”
This is not accurate. The requirements of NCLB have nothing to do with accreditation. Those are two different set of benchmarks. A school can be accredited and not meet the NCLB benchmarks and conversely, a school could meet the NCLB benchmarks and not be accredited.
That’s so Chuck. NCLB has more to do with AYP which is annual yearly progress. Another interesting point is that NCLB has less teeth when a school is not a Title 1 school and a school becomes a Title 1 school based on the number of students who have applied for and receive free/reduced lunch. This is one of the reasons I suspect that schools may not be making a lot of effort to get that paper out to students. Although Title 1 means more money for a school it can also mean more punishment since many of our schools are not making AYP.
Don’t worry, folks. The lawyers are weighing in and I will post their responses and the research I have compiled as well. Thanks to all posters’ best knowledge and effort, legal opinions and additional research, I think we should be well-prepared for this committee meeting.
I’ve incorporated the Northside input sent by Ms. Wolf into the committee material for the discussion. Thanks for providing good input and issues to consider. And remember, any committee recommendation will go to the full school board for approval with time in advance for public comment. Stay tuned.
Prior to leaving City Hall later today, I will post details of what transpires in the meeting scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. Check here for update and answers.
Thanks so much for all your excellent questions and information.
~ Carol Wolf
Too All:
The short version of what happened today at LLP Committee is simply that administration and school board attorneys need to complete the already assigned homework and answer additional questions before this committee can make any recommendation concerning any changes to process, procedure or policy.
I am happy to report that one issue was clarified. If a child and siblings are attending an out-of-zone school, those children and are “grandfathered in” to the school.
Other than that, nothing definitive was determined. I promise to keep one and all apprised and post answers as they arrive. I will provide a more detailed discussion of the points covered today later this evening (or early tomorrow morning).
Thanks again for all your great questions!
~ Carol Wolf
I don’t understand why “reachemteachem”’s name appears above. I posted this from a computer at City Hall. ~ CW
To All:
The short version of what happened today at LLP Committee is simply that administration and school board attorneys need to complete the already assigned homework and answer additional questions before this committee can make any recommendation concerning any changes to process, procedure or policy.
I am happy to report that one issue was clarified. If a child and siblings are attending an out-of-zone school, those children and are “grandfathered in” to the school.
Other than that, nothing definitive was determined. I promise to keep one and all apprised and post answers as they arrive. I will provide a more detailed discussion of the points covered today later this evening (or early tomorrow morning).
Thanks again for all your great questions!
~ Carol Wolf
Could it be your nome de plume?
Nope. Could it be yours?
It’s interesting that this is the second time that has happened to you. What are the odds?
During Gaston, a sewer line running underneath the park cracked, and sewage damaged large sections of the park, including the tennis courts. Park officials will repair the tennis courts and the computers after they receive an insurance settlement. Tennis court repairs alone will cost $80,000, Everson said.
Megazones need to be erased. Why should a student in the eastend stand in line behind a student in Woodland Heights for a spot in Munford or Fox? I can get to those schools from Church Hill just as fast or faster. Everyone not in-zone should be considered out-of-zone and should be given equal opportunity in the open enrollment process.
The enrollment policy draft does eliminate megazones–and thus megazone preference–so that any city family can apply for admission to any city school outside of their neighborhood zone. Based on the committee discussion, I’m updating the draft language (posted at the beginning of this article) to include both sibling admissions and “grandfathering” of current out-of-zone students. The committee also discussed how to provide secondary principals with an appropriate level of control over the number of students that can be accommodated in each academic program within a school. A number of questions were presented about NCLB transfers, but because those are separate from this process (with admission steps defined by the Feds) RPS administration will provide written responses about how NCLB tranfers are done. We can certainly post those as well; NCLB policies don’t seem to be widely understood, so we should do whatever we can to increase awareness of those policies too. Bottom line: the September LLPC committee meeting should allow us to review the updates to the draft so that the full board can discuss and vote on approval (with public comment time) in October. I may be at a conference during the regularly scheduled committee time, so stay tuned for dates.
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Everyone present at the LLP Committee meeting agreed that the challenge of aligning open enrollment policy and process presents a confusing and complex problem.
My ideal would be for this board to dedicate itself to ensuring that all schools in the system will be made equal, then having city-wide open enrollment would be fitting and proper.
Theoretically, if all neighborhood schools were equal, this would not be an issue.
While Mrs. Bridges and Mr. Braxton maintained that all schools are equal, I submitted that there is a public perception that they are NOT EQUAL, otherwise why would people want to go to a school not in their zone.
Clearly, there are no easy answers to this one.
But, realizing that the chasm between the ideal and the real is great, we must find a policy and a process that will move us closer to the ideal while simultaneously ensuring that Richmond’s families have the widest choice possible to make the best decisions for their children and neighborhoods.
For example, if the board were to eliminate all megazones and megazone preference and opt for city-wide open enrollment, we would need to abandon our oft-stated policy of embracing neighborhood schools.
Conversely, if we were to move to strictly enforce the zoned neighborhood schools and allow open enrollment contingent upon available space and the child’s family providing transportation, such a policy or process would place those families without transportation at a distinct disadvantage since they would not be able to exercise their right of choice.
In order to have the information to make a data-driven and fair decision, I asked to know how many Nationally Board Certified Teachers are at each school, what extra-curricular and curricular-enhancing programs are at each school, the number of brand-new teachers vs. experienced teachers, number of computers in classrooms, libraries and computer labs.
Additionally, I have previously requested information concerning already existing out-of-zone placements at each school and why, number of suspensions, number of special education vs. regular education students, teacher-pupil ratio per grade-level and classrooms, number of students enrolled in each school and number of field trips and culturally enhancing assemblies and special enrichment programs offered at each school.
I am still waiting for this information and for additional data concerning the home elementary/middle schools of students admitted to the IB middle years and upper grades programs, Richmond Community, Open High School and Governor’s Schools.
As stated earlier, Richmond administration and attorneys did not have the answers to these questions and those I submitted based on the concerns yo ave expressed. Since they needed more time to complete their homework, feel free to submit any additional questions you might have.
********** THE QUESTIONS **************
1. I generally understand the federal requirements of NCLB as it relates to allowing children to access an accredited school. To my knowledge, the potential of such placement squeezing out other placements has existed as long as NCLB has. What seems new and of potential concern is the lottery element to the out of zone process for spaces remaining after NCLB needs are accommodated. How is this supposed to work?
2. To begin, I am curious to understand the impetus behind the proposed lottery element. Is this out of some perceived unfairness to the current process? If so, what are the specific facts that drive the concern? I am sensitive to a fair system, but would want to know if this is necessary to achieve it. (For example, are there circumstances in which the current policy prevented people’s ability to achieve out of zone?)
3. Can you obtain the numbers for each school that are NCLB placements, that are out of zone placements, and the number of out of zone requests that were denied (for reason other than performance or conduct issues)?
4. My understanding is that Fox went to a lottery system some years ago. What led to that change and what difference has it made (good or bad)?
5. As for the policy itself, a number of details related to the policy are not known: Is there a deadline for out of zone placement applications to be considered in the lottery?
6. Does the lottery occur every year for each student/grade, or is a student guaranteed space (after NCLB placements) each successive year so long as they adequately perform and meet school expectations (as I know out of zone placement is considered a privilege)?
7. I would have great concern if a student had to face the lottery each year (making school continuity a problem).
8. Currently there is a general expectation (though maybe not policy) that siblings are able to follow students allowed via out of zone. Is this true? [SEE ABOVE].
9. What is the plan for this in the current policy? I would of course be in favor of siblings being allowed to follow without having to go through the lottery. [SEE ABOVE].
10. The 5-day notice is part of the current policy and is something we recognize can always happen, so this is not especially a concern for me. But, is there a way to ease this tension for other families?
11. Priority 1 & 2 talk about NCLB and out-of-zone enrollments, does this mean that RPS are erasing the mega-zone lines? [THIS IS PART OF WHAT IS PROPOSED. SEE ABOVE].
“In cases of unexpectedly larger school and/or class enrollment, principals may withdraw out-of-zone permission prior to the opening of school. Parents will receive written notice five days prior to withdrawal” – it would not give parents time to find another school or move to another neighborhood.
12. Have you considered that an unintended consequence of this policy would cause folk to think twice before moving into certain areas if getting into a good school becomes near impossible and too risky?
13. Acceptance at this program (IB) is based on the students’ academic, behavioral, and extracurricular performance” – some of the poor elementary RPS do not offer extracurricular activities. I wonder if kids graduating from wealthier schools with the certified teachers, technology, Accelerated Reader, arts and drama have a leg up on the kids attending poor schools with only the bare bones SOL based curriculum from Downtown. Not fair.
14. Is transportation provided to Lucille Brown? If not, is this school eligible for NCLB students?
15. Do the requirements of NCLB apply to all public schools, charters included since they are public schools in Virginia?
16. What are the consequences of not meeting the state-developed goals different for Title I schools?
Are all public schools expected to meet the goals?
17. Are the schools and the school division penalized if they don’t? What are the consequences?
18. Does transportation does factor into those goals or attendance zones?
Does NCLB apply to the Patrick Henry charter school?
19. Is Patrick Henry a Title 1 school?
If NCLB applies to the charters and the Governors school does that mean they must give slots to kids coming from low performing schools first?
20. Does this mean that RPS MUST provide transportation to the out of zone kids who have been accepted through NCLB?
21. Is it true that the local school division makes the determination regarding which schools can accept students from low performing schools that must offer choice and which students are eligible to take advantage of the choice option?
22. Is this is one of those instances where the sanction only applies to Title I school? What are the sanctions that might apply?
23. If the local school division designates a charter school as a Title I school, is choice an option?
24. I have a question regarding the draft and secondary schools – currently my son attends an out of zone secondary school. We did not participate in a lottery when he was admitted last year. Would this mean, if the draft was adopted, that he could loose his spot as an 8th grader if his name was not chosen (or, like Hanover County out of district students, once you are in middle or high you are in for the duration)?
25. How were the open enrollment schools chosen? Ignoring megazones, the open enrollment elementary schools are Fisher, Southampton, Cary, Fox, Munford, Bellevue, Ginter Park, Whitcomb and Woodville. Is it intended that these will remain the open enrollment schools under the new draft, or will all schools be open enrollment?
26. Is it true that there is no transportation for Headstart? The VPI program is underutilized in RPS by the kids who need it most for only one reason — the schools don’t provide pre-k buses.
I’ll give credit where it is due… Ms. Wolf I respect that you recognize our schools are unequal. However, I’m a bit surprised you don’t seem to know much about Title 1. In question 19 you asked if PH Charter is Title 1… before that determination can be made it needs students, after that at least 40% of those must be identified as low-income, which is generally done by enrollment in the free/reduced lunch program. Furthermore, in response to question 23 Title 1 is made by federal determination not by the LEA. NCLB has more to do with Title 1 funding when it comes to penalizing schools than other issues.
Yes, charter schools have to follow NCLB regulations as well. Here is a nifty little document that took me less than five minutes to find which answers your questions. http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/charterguidance03.doc
I’d like to thank you for further supporting my argument that you have no to very little qualification for running a school system and that you should step aside for someone who would at least take five minutes to answer their own questions. Remember, as taxpayers, we’re paying 250 million a year into this system and we’d like to see it run by competent and qualified individuals.