Copyright 2016. These materials may not be reproduced or distributed without express written permission by Parents Education League of Los Angeles. Elementary School Choice: Navigating Choices presented by Amy Walia-Fazio and Kim Haselhoff Parents Education League of Los Angeles awaliafazio@parentseducationleague.org and The Landscape • Public Neighborhood Schools (Home or Resident School) • Charter Schools • Magnet Schools • Home Schooling DEFINITIONS Charter School A charter school is a public school of choice established upon the basis of a charter. The charter is an extensive, performance contract with an authorizer (i.e., the Board of Education). Magnet School Magnet Schools were established (in the 1970s) as response to disparities between public schools in wealthy and poor neighborhoods. The goal: to empower parents to choose a school in a different neighborhood that might best serve their child. Current day: there are over 198 Magnet schools operating within the LAUSD boundaries. These schools have a wide and diverse range of focus: gifted, performing arts, sports medicine, technology, engineering, etc. There is a detailed point system for entry into a Magnet school. Traditional District/Public School (often referred to as your “neighborhood” or resident school). It is the public school your child is eligible to attend given their residential address. LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS LAUSD Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Beverly Hills Unified Culver City La Canada-Flintridge Pasadena-South Pasadena Burbank Unified AGE REQUIREMENTS For entry into Kindergarten (public, charter, and magnet): 5 on or before September 1 For entry into Transitional Kindergarten (TK) (public, charter): turning 5 between September 2 and December 2 For entry into Transitional Kindergarten Expansion Program (TK-ex) LAUSDonly: specific schools, primarily for low-income students who turn 5 after December 2 CRITERIA TO CONSIDER IN YOUR SCHOOL SEARCH Type of school: Independent vs Charter vs Public vs Magnet 1. Philosophy and Mission of school 2. Location 3. Campus 4. Teachers: educational background and requirements, teacher retention and turnover 5. Community: diversity, parent participation, fundraising, 6. Communication: between school and family, between teachers and family 7. Active PTA or other Parent organization 8. Age requirements and cutoffs 9. Kindergarten readiness (vs TK/DK/Pre-K) 10.Kindergarten screening and observations 11.Application process and procedures 12.Waitlists 13.School Visits and Open Houses 14.Learning styles and/or School theme/focus Criteria continued... 16. Curriculum focus (reading, writing, math, specialists?) 17. Language immersion and/or offerings 18. Extracurricular opportunities 19. Teacher/Student ratio 20. Vaccination policies 21. Security 22. Multiples 23. Learning Differences and IEPs 24. Homework Policy 25. BEST FIT Overview: Portion of Current School Options School Model Magnet Permits with Transportation When to Apply? Transportation Available? When Are Placements Announced? All Parents Online (apply.lausd.net) or via paper 10/4- 11/10 Yes* (depends on grade level and applicant’s dis tance from program) March 2017 Must live within a PWT sending school Online (apply.lausd.net) or via paper 10/4- 11/10 Yes March 2017 Who Can Apply? How Can You Apply? Each independent charter s chool has its own application timeline and application requirements . Contact your s chool of interes t for more information. Charter Intra-District Permit District K-12 Open Enrollment Must meet necessary criteria All Parents School-based paper process Any time for the current school year; after March 1st for upcoming school year. No Rolling approval Online (apply.lausd.net) or via paper May 2017 No July 2017 Overview: Portion of Current School Options School Model School for Advanced Studies Zones of Choice Who Can Apply? Gifted/high ability learners; applicants must meet one of three SAS eligibility criteria (qualified resident students must be accommodated before any SAS permits are granted) 8 th grade s tudents living within a Zone How Can You Apply? Online http://achieve.lausd.net/gate under Program Options or at SAS s chool of choice; s ubmit application directly to SAS s ite (proces s s ubject to change) Note: Application NOT required for qualified res ident s tudents OR qualified accepted/ continuing s tudents at affiliated charter s chools with SAS des ignation. Online (8 th grade s tudents in s chool computer labs ) When to Apply? Transportation Available? When Are Placements Announced? April 2017; applications accepted throughout the year as space is available No May 2017 2/1-2/26 No Mid-March 2017 MAGNET SCHOOLS • Voluntary Court-Ordered Integration Program to alleviate the Harms of Racial Isolation—THIS IS FOR LAUSD ONLY • 210 Magnet schools and centers • 9 Themes • Parents may choose any Magnet school (can apply to 3 or fewer) • Exceptions: Students applying for Gifted/Highly Gifted/High-Ability schools must be eligible or verified by current school Magnet Point System • Selection based on Magnet goal and priority points, not on a first-come first-served basis. • Matriculation (12 points) • Waiting List (4 – 12 points) • Predominately Hispanic, Black, Asian and other non-Anglo (4 points) • Overcrowded Schools (4 points) • Sibling w/ same address (3 points) (to same school) CHARTER SCHOOLS -Free public schools -Open to any students who wishes to attend -Nearly 1 in 4 LAUSD students attend charters SOME KEY DIFFERENCES FROM TRADITIONAL DISTRICT SCHOOLS -More flexibility -Entry by lottery (no points) WHEN AND WHY WERE CHARTERS CREATED? CALIFORNIA: 1992 CHARTER SCHOOL ACT -To provide more choices within the public school system, especially for academically low achieving students -To provide more opportunities for teachers to be involved in developing the learning programs at their schools -Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods -To increase competition within the public school system Basic Types of Charter Schools INDEPENDENT AFFILIATED CONVERSION START-UP All charter schools must be reauthorized every 5 years to show they are meeting state requirements AFFILIATED CHARTER SCHOOLS EXAMPLES - Carpenter, Colfax, Hesby -Traditional district schools that converted to charter status -Now have some autonomy on teaching, curriculum, and budget -Still part of LAUSD - bound by district policy on things like teacher contracts (teachers are UTLA), and affected by district decisions on class sizes, calendar, staff positions etc. -Are able to continue to use their LAUSD school site Independent Charter Schools -Autonomy - full flexibility on staff hiring and firing (teachers usually non-union), full control of budget, governance, school philosophy and operations -Not subject to district policies or budget cuts -Have to find own school site. May be co-located on an LAUSD school campus -CONSIDERATIONS Make their own calendars, which may not be the same as LAUSD May not offer FREE after school care May expect more parent volunteer time (cannot be required) Charter Schools in LA Charter Schools in LA LA Charter Schools by Geography ADMISSIONS TIMELINES SPRING (1.3 years prior to entry) attend PEL Kindergarten 101 Workshop • SUMMER • • • make tentative list of schools, by type make matrix with pertinent school information re: deadlines/tours/etc fill out applications as they become available FALL • • • • continue applications as available sign up for tours and open houses Submit Magnet Application (Oct-Nov) Join PEL, schedule advisory (early in the season is most beneficial) WINTER • make sure applications are complete with all required letters of recommendations/gifted documentation, if necessary TIMELINES (continued) SPRING • SAS Program applications usually available in March. • Open Enrollment is first week of May __________ • For MAGNET SCHOOLS: • notifications mailed in March. • For CHARTER SCHOOLS: • make note of lottery date • follow up if you have not heard from the school *KEEP IN MIND: Movement occurs in the Summer, particularly amongst Charter/Magnet/SAS/Intra transfers. HELPFUL LINKS Parents Education League of Los Angeles: www.parents educa tionlea gue.org Charter Schools and Public Schools www.ccs a.org home.laus d.net http://caaspp.cde.ca.gov/sb2015/Search (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress) www.school-ratings.com http://snapshots.ccsa.org Magnet schools http://echoices.lausd.net/Default.aspx
