Committee Considers Changes to Student Assignment
By Nicole Achs Freeling
GreatSchools.net Correspondent
Although the Board has decided to postpone for another year a major overhaul of its controversial student assignment system, the Rules, Policy & Legislation Committee met Wednesday to discuss proposed modifications to the current system. If adopted by the Board, these modifications would go into effect in the 07/08 school year.
The biggest change the committee recommended is to scrap the use of mother's education level as a deciding factor in its diversity index lottery. The diversity index uses rubrics like socioeconomic factors and native language in an attempt to assign a diverse mix of students to each school. Using mother's education level as one of those factors was not a good measure because it was "not verifiable, and seems to be manipulated," according to Commissioner Jill Wynns. Children whose mothers claimed no higher than a high school education sometimes had better shots at getting slots at the most sought-after schools.
In place of mother's education level, the committee sought to establish another factor that would establish "extreme poverty." At the moment, families are given weight for low socioeconomic status if they meet one of the following criteria: qualify for a free or reduced lunch, participate in CalWorks, or are residents of public housing. But with about half of district students qualifying for free and reduced lunch, the rubric is not enough of an indicator to give special consideration to those at the very bottom of the economic ladder, Board members said
One measure suggested was using residence in public housing as a separate and additional weighted factor. Such a measure could capture families who are poor but don't apply for the free lunch program. Sandra Fewer, a representative of Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth, pointed out that such a measure would not capture children of undocumented workers, who are ineligible for many state services. "These families are not living in public housing. They are living in basements with four other families and they are not eligible for CalWorks."
The committee asked staff to bring forth suggestions for an "extreme poverty factor" to be considered by the full board, possibly as soon as its next regular meeting September 12.
Possible Priorities for Teachers' Kids
The committee also discussed a resolution that would give priority enrollment to students of teachers who lived and worked in the district. The aim of the resolution would be to give students greater ability to attend the school were their parent worked. The commissioners were generally in favor of the idea, but expressed concern the measure could harm underperforming schools by giving teachers an incentive to apply for jobs at the best schools rather than the ones where their talents are most needed. Commissioner Sanchez objected to the condition that teachers must live as well as work in the district. Many teachers don't live in the city, he said, because their salaries don't allow them to. One possibility the committee discussed was to give children of teachers priority in the appeals process if they don't get their desired schools in the first round of the lottery, but give them equal priority on the first round.
Cracking Down on Fake Siblings
The proposal also directed the district to increase efforts to more rigorously verify sibling claims. Commissioner Wynns observed that at the most sought-after schools, half to three quarters of the kindergarten class spaces are taken up by siblings. "That rate seems improbable given what we know about birth patterns," she said. However, Chief Administrative Officer Orla O'Keefe said the district already has a fairly strict verification procedures, requiring parents to show proof – either a birth certificate or passport listing them as guardian – that they are responsible for all the children listed as siblings.
The full board will take up these modifications at one of its meetings next month.
GreatSchools.net Correspondent
- Measure to Establish "Extreme Poverty" Considered
- Possible Priorities for Teachers' Kids
- Cracking Down on Fake Siblings
Although the Board has decided to postpone for another year a major overhaul of its controversial student assignment system, the Rules, Policy & Legislation Committee met Wednesday to discuss proposed modifications to the current system. If adopted by the Board, these modifications would go into effect in the 07/08 school year.
The biggest change the committee recommended is to scrap the use of mother's education level as a deciding factor in its diversity index lottery. The diversity index uses rubrics like socioeconomic factors and native language in an attempt to assign a diverse mix of students to each school. Using mother's education level as one of those factors was not a good measure because it was "not verifiable, and seems to be manipulated," according to Commissioner Jill Wynns. Children whose mothers claimed no higher than a high school education sometimes had better shots at getting slots at the most sought-after schools.
In place of mother's education level, the committee sought to establish another factor that would establish "extreme poverty." At the moment, families are given weight for low socioeconomic status if they meet one of the following criteria: qualify for a free or reduced lunch, participate in CalWorks, or are residents of public housing. But with about half of district students qualifying for free and reduced lunch, the rubric is not enough of an indicator to give special consideration to those at the very bottom of the economic ladder, Board members said
One measure suggested was using residence in public housing as a separate and additional weighted factor. Such a measure could capture families who are poor but don't apply for the free lunch program. Sandra Fewer, a representative of Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth, pointed out that such a measure would not capture children of undocumented workers, who are ineligible for many state services. "These families are not living in public housing. They are living in basements with four other families and they are not eligible for CalWorks."
The committee asked staff to bring forth suggestions for an "extreme poverty factor" to be considered by the full board, possibly as soon as its next regular meeting September 12.
Possible Priorities for Teachers' Kids
The committee also discussed a resolution that would give priority enrollment to students of teachers who lived and worked in the district. The aim of the resolution would be to give students greater ability to attend the school were their parent worked. The commissioners were generally in favor of the idea, but expressed concern the measure could harm underperforming schools by giving teachers an incentive to apply for jobs at the best schools rather than the ones where their talents are most needed. Commissioner Sanchez objected to the condition that teachers must live as well as work in the district. Many teachers don't live in the city, he said, because their salaries don't allow them to. One possibility the committee discussed was to give children of teachers priority in the appeals process if they don't get their desired schools in the first round of the lottery, but give them equal priority on the first round.
Cracking Down on Fake Siblings
The proposal also directed the district to increase efforts to more rigorously verify sibling claims. Commissioner Wynns observed that at the most sought-after schools, half to three quarters of the kindergarten class spaces are taken up by siblings. "That rate seems improbable given what we know about birth patterns," she said. However, Chief Administrative Officer Orla O'Keefe said the district already has a fairly strict verification procedures, requiring parents to show proof – either a birth certificate or passport listing them as guardian – that they are responsible for all the children listed as siblings.
The full board will take up these modifications at one of its meetings next month.
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welcome back nicole!
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