|
|
| Forums > Public School Choice > Exercising Your School Choice | | Author | Topic : Exercising Your School Choice |
|---|
| PurposeandPower
Activist |  posted July 6, 2009 7:53 AM  
| School Choice?
This past spring, my husband and I had to make the heart-wrenching, financial decision to transfer our daughter from a private school in Cobb County to public school for the upcoming school year. Because this was such a difficult decision and would also be difficult for our middle-schooler to leave her friends, we wanted to send her to a good school, but one where she already had a few friends. I was excited to hear about HB251 and followed its progress through the legislature. I was ecstatic when it finally passed and was signed into law. I waited with bated breath to see if the school where she desired to go--and one which I had researched--would be on this coveted list of eligible schools. On 1 July, I felt like a deflated balloon when I noticed that our school of choice was not listed, nor was our second choice, OR our designated neighborhood school! In fact, none of the "good" or high-performing schools were listed! My daughter cried! So....what happened to real "choice"? Who would CHOOSE to send their children to schools that were already performing poorly? And how demeaning and condescending of the district or Board to think that the "elibigle" schools were the ONLY schools with available space. Please...give parents more credit than that! The law is not being implemented with the intent in which it was designed, and I certainly don't think it allows much choice for parents in the northern part of Cobb County. Shame on you, powers that be! Please focus on putting the best interest of our children at the heart of your decisions, NOT your own interests or fears. |
Posts: 1 | From: Kennesaw, GA |
|
| Kathy
Activist | posted July 27, 2009 5:42 PM
| HB 251 School Choice
On June 26, 2009 The Macon Telegraph wrote, "The board also heard Superintendent David Carpenter report on HB251, passed by the General Assembly this year, which allows parents to send their children to any school in the district were they reside if the school has capacity after regular zoned students are enrolled. Under the law, school systems can determine which schools can accept additional students, Carpenter said, and Houston has set an 80 percent capacity standard for its schools.
On July 24, 2009 I sent the following email to the superintendent because I attend board meetings regularly and I was truly hoping that primary stakeholders would be able to exercise the law.
"I have tried to locate the policy in which the Houston County school district enforces a 80% "capacity standard to eliminate school transfers under HB 251 for all of the middle school students in Houston County." Is this standard de facto or can I find it in written form as a policy?"
The suprerintendent did not reply and neither did the BOE chair or vicechair. Today I went to my son's middle school just to pick up the letter to parents. There was nothing at the front desk telling me anything about HB251. I am still waiting to see the 80% policy, otherwise it would appear that somebody simply came up with a number, put it to the public, and that would take care of any hopeful parents who want to be involved in the local decision making process. Especially when it comes to their child.
Additionally, school starts August 4 and we were told that no transfers will be permitted until 10 days after the first day of school because we don't really know how many kids are enrolled until after the first day. Also, it is within that same 10-day window that students can try to change their schedule in high school. In Houston County before school ends our district sent a "form of intent" to every parent asking if our child will be attending the same school. If not, we are asked to give the new school's name. Thus, the district has a pretty good idea the number of students who will be attending the school.
One more item of interest to likely cause a certain degree of logistical nightmare. Teacher contracts were due on April 15, However, under the new law teacher contracts were pushed back to May 15. This seems more like establishing the supply of teachers and then the district controling or eliminating the potential demand. Parents did not get choice, we continue to serve at the pleasure of the school district, which is within their constitutional rights under Article VIII. I applaud the efforts of HB251
and it may take some time, but I truly hope every primary stakeholder holds local BOEs, at the very least, the LETTER of the law.
.
|
Posts: 11 |
|
| Kathy
Activist | posted July 27, 2009 6:58 PM
| School choice
Houston County has the following information at its website.
http://www.hcbe.net/frontnews1.html
The following stipulation in the notice makes me wonder what if any, "sense of belonging" a child or parent can expect to experience from the losing school's principal, teachers, and or staff after an intent to transfer has been submitted. Why does a child have to spend almost 3 weeks at a school that a parent has expressed that he/she does not want to be there?
I also take issue with the fact that one person in Houston County, the assistant superintendent, receives the paperwork, then he evaluates it, and then he will determines the child's academic fate. Why do you suppose only one person is in charge of the transfers and nobody else is involved in the process in Houston County that has a population of over 25,000 students? 9. All students are to begin the school year at their home zoned school. Approved transfers will be effective no earlier than August 31, 2009, following notification. |
Posts: 11 |
|
| Teachours
Activist | posted August 2, 2009 4:46 PM
| Coweta County School System
There have been numerous issues with school systems abiding by HB 251. The excuses are very unique, and as for Coweta County School System, when the Bill passed, they immediately put a letter on their website stating that they are still under a 1973 school desegregation law. It goes into detail to say that they applied for unitary status in 2006 and pending the outcome of the request from the U. S. Department of Justice, they would let everyone know which if any schools would be available.
My dilemma: In March of 2009 I called the school system to find out what steps I had to take to apply for the M-to-M program for my child. The secretary who answered the phone stated that Coweta County Schools do not have an M-to-M program because they are "equal at every school".
As I continued to do research, I soon found out that the school system was indeed under a court order and had to offer M-to-M based upon a formula that determines the percentage of African Americans at each school and each grade level. In July when the school systems posted the information that they were under the desegregation order and could not follow the guidelines of HB 251, I called to speak to the Administrative Services Director Mr. Steve Barker and you would not believe how unprofessional he was discussing everything with me. He began by quoting every reason why the school system did not have to abide by HB 251. I explained to him that I was not interested in that, but in the M-to-M program, and he responded with a statement similar to that of the secretary, that they are "equally balanced at every school"?
I explained to him that I had obtained the FTE reports from the last official count in March and would like to know if these numbers were the most recent and if so, could he tell me if they were aligned with the desegregation order. His response was a bit hostile and stated that the school system was meeting the requirements of the court order and that even if I did apply for M-to-M, it would not be approved because he was the approving authority!
Knowing that this conversation was not going to be productive, I called the superintendents office and was told that he would be out of for the remainder of the week, (June 15th) and the following week he would be unavailable. The secretary then gave me Mr. Dean Jackson's office and the following week I spoke with Mr. Jackson, he forwarded the Coweta County School System's enrollment by sex and ethnicity, school and grade from January 2009 and stated he would provide the end of year reports as soon as possible.
Mr. Jackson was much more helpful than Mr. Barker and was willing to get me as much information as possible in order to assist me.
Ladies and gentlemen: In spite of the hard work and effort of are elected officials to do right by our children, we are still dealing with these Catch 22 tactics that are not conducive to exercising school of choice for our students. Thank you |
Posts: 3 |
|
| Kathy
Activist | posted August 2, 2009 6:21 PM
| School Choice in Coweta
Hello Teachours:
I don't mean to insult your intelligence, but I would like to share a thought or two with you.If your child is zoned for Evans Middle School in Cowetta, you have school choice because of NCLB because it did not make AYP for two consecutive years. However, if your child goes to a different school in Coweta it seems that the standing laws resulting from the civil rights movement stands. Title I schools also have provisions for parent involvement and is directly tied to funding. If the district doesn't allow you guys to exercise HB 251 than I would look at the school's TItle IV safe schools report, scrutinize that they are running their school council according to law, and look up HB 605. Student Disciplinary Act of 1999. OCGA 20-2-736 paragraph c. All of these opportunities are to bring parents into the decision making process, which might help those in Coweta county to manuever within the system to make your child's education process an experinece you feel comfortable with. Good luck from Houston County. Bottom line: Georgia's constitution, Article VIII section V paragraph II and III gives local boards of education and the superintendent all power to run the day to day operations of our schools. We are trying to get an ammendment to the constitution for parents to be part of that equation because Parents are the PRIMARY stakeholders and ultimately responsible for their children. Ask your legislators to include language in the constitution to hold parents accountable for the education of their children.
better. I am al
w
|
Posts: 11 |
|
| Teachours
Activist | posted August 3, 2009 2:50 AM
| Coweta County School System
Kathy, thank you very much for the posting. Yes I am and have always been actively involved with my child's education. I have been the President of the PTA at her elementary school twice, LSAC chairperson-twice, and have volunteered numerous hours in the school and community, however, that was because she attended an elementary school in Fulton County.
Coweta on the other hand, has been a challenge indeed. As a full time working single parent, too many of the opportunities to be a part of the parent network is limited. I have looked at the demographic make up of the county and (not that it is a bad thing) but many of the households are two parent and at least one of them is a stay at home mom.
My child will be attending high school this year. She is an exceptional student who has been selected for honors/AP courses in her freshman year. Her CRCT scores are well above the average for the county and she plays 2 instruments. Her desire is to attend Northgate High School instead of Newnan High and we have been "recruited" by the marching band since March. We have both worked with the band since then, volunteering with the booster club at events that the majority of the freshman parents and students did not attend.
No, you have not insulted my intelligence, but I do appreciate the information you have provided because it may assist someone else. |
Posts: 3 |
|
| Teachours
Activist | posted August 3, 2009 6:48 AM
| Coweta County School System
Hi, I kid you not, I have a schedule from the school my child is supposed to attend, the teacher recommendations from her 8th grade teachers was not followed through on the high school schedule. Two advanced classes are not on the schedule. So, when are the hours to request changes to meet the teachers' recommendation: Tuesday-August 4th from 1:00-3:30 and Wednesday/Thursday from 8:00-3:30 and closed from 11:30-1:00. So what is a parent to do? Continue trying to find solutions to this Catch 22 process. |
Posts: 3 |
|
| Kathy
Activist | posted August 3, 2009 8:23 AM
| Good Morning Teachours,
Have you involved your elected BOE members yet? Local BOE normally have a time when they go into executive session to talk about student matters. This is usually when the parent can address them, one on one. Knowing and utilizing the local grievance process is always good to know in case you choose to go that route as well. Of course none of these processes are going to ensure anything, but it can help parents cope with what is going on because we find comfort in the fact that we left no stone unturned.
The worse nightmare for a school....is a parent who has the knowledge as to how things are supposed to be done, and parents who experienced better. I was the PTA president for two years at our most populated high school in Houston County and I can truly feel your frustration. The more ignorant the parent is, the more the school can dismiss their concerns, ideas, or suggestiong. School systems LOVE it when parents use subjective arguments, but have to think if we use objective arguments.
It sounds like your daughter is going to be successful in spite of the obstacles. Although this may be difficult just remember that you are doing all that you can do and it is your passion and love for your child that is going to make both of you stronger. I applaud your bravery.
|
Posts: 11 |
|
| Kathy
Activist | posted August 3, 2009 8:32 AM
| school choice
I would like to share the following site with you. It is a site from parents to parents. We call it the Houston County Electronic Action Committee. School jargon and acronyms are confusing at times, and I don't know anyone who likes to look stupid on purpose. Therefore, if we create a "parent" friendly site, perhaps more parents will read it.
http://www.hcepac.com/index.html |
Posts: 11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|