Proximity Percentage Set-Aside Preference Inquiry [PK/Elementary]

[Anonymous]

I believe that it is safe to say that the large majority of parents want their children to attend a "good school" [solid academics + safe environment] that is close by [10-15 minute distance or less being ideal].

Another assumption is that families might make an exception if they have an opportunity to attend a school with special programs [ex. Montessori and/or foreign language] and an environment that they consider excellent, and may be willing to endure a 30-40 minute distance for the opportunity.

Given that there is a large amount of charter schools covering most of DC east of 14th Street NW, what are thoughts in regard to charters offering a percent set-aside to nearby families. Say a school sets aside 20-30% for a localized lottery that would give nearby parents a better chance of their children attending a school in close proximity to their homes.

For example: Imagine that a family lives close to Sela but they are accepted to Two Rivers. They would prefer Sela because it is a 5 minute commute, but because they did not get in they will accept Two Rivers which might be a 20-45 minute rush hour commute.

Likewise, in addition to commute distance, more children from a community might attend the nearby charter if there was a certain proximity preference, thus fostering a stronger relationship between the school and the immediate community and those families.

Would a percentage set-aside be of interest? Does your opinion vary based on whether you "won" a nearby school / are already in the charter system / etc. ? Does your opinion vary based on your proximity (or lack thereof) to charters that you would want your child to attend? Should the charter lottery always be completely open to the entire city for all schools and never factor in SES, proximity, or any other factor?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

[Anonymous]

I would offer it only to families displaced when a neighborhood school is closed and turned over to a charter. Aside from that, I think it further advantages those who can afford to choose where they live.

[Anonymous]

The key is "parents want their children to attend a "good school" [solid academics + safe environment]"

I don't want something more complicated. I want something simple and good. Can we just stop with the new variations on preference and instead focus on making the schools we have better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The key is "parents want their children to attend a "good school" [solid academics + safe environment]"

I don't want something more complicated. I want something simple and good. Can we just stop with the new variations on preference and instead focus on making the schools we have better?

+1. Enough already.

[Anonymous]

There's already an optional proximity preference for charters being debated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I believe that it is safe to say that the large majority of parents want their children to attend a "good school" [solid academics + safe environment] that is close by [10-15 minute distance or less being ideal].

Another assumption is that families might make an exception if they have an opportunity to attend a school with special programs [ex. Montessori and/or foreign language] and an environment that they consider excellent, and may be willing to endure a 30-40 minute distance for the opportunity.

Given that there is a large amount of charter schools covering most of DC east of 14th Street NW, what are thoughts in regard to charters offering a percent set-aside to nearby families. Say a school sets aside 20-30% for a localized lottery that would give nearby parents a better chance of their children attending a school in close proximity to their homes.

For example: Imagine that a family lives close to Sela but they are accepted to Two Rivers. They would prefer Sela because it is a 5 minute commute, but because they did not get in they will accept Two Rivers which might be a 20-45 minute rush hour commute.

Likewise, in addition to commute distance, more children from a community might attend the nearby charter if there was a certain proximity preference, thus fostering a stronger relationship between the school and the immediate community and those families.

Would a percentage set-aside be of interest? Does your opinion vary based on whether you "won" a nearby school / are already in the charter system / etc. ? Does your opinion vary based on your proximity (or lack thereof) to charters that you would want your child to attend? Should the charter lottery always be completely open to the entire city for all schools and never factor in SES, proximity, or any other factor?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

You think you've just invented the wheel. NOBODY has had these conversations before. You couldn't possibly search them online, much less the beehive of DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Proximity preference for individual students eligible for free and reduced meals. There's my policy preference.

[Anonymous]

the Mayor already wants to allow this. http://wamu.org/story/17/03/08/d-c-officials-offer-details-proposed-walkability-preference-charters-concerns-remain/

Are you not aware of this, or do you work for the mayor and want to drum up discussion?

I think it's a dumb idea and will further distort the commercial and residential real estate markets.

But at least schools would be given the choice of offering it. It seems like relatively few charter are interested and most don't have very long wait lists anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Proximity preference for individual students eligible for free and reduced meals. There's my policy preference.

YES. Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I believe that it is safe to say that the large majority of parents want their children to attend a "good school" [solid academics + safe environment] that is close by [10-15 minute distance or less being ideal].

Another assumption is that families might make an exception if they have an opportunity to attend a school with special programs [ex. Montessori and/or foreign language] and an environment that they consider excellent, and may be willing to endure a 30-40 minute distance for the opportunity.

Given that there is a large amount of charter schools covering most of DC east of 14th Street NW, what are thoughts in regard to charters offering a percent set-aside to nearby families. Say a school sets aside 20-30% for a localized lottery that would give nearby parents a better chance of their children attending a school in close proximity to their homes.

For example: Imagine that a family lives close to Sela but they are accepted to Two Rivers. They would prefer Sela because it is a 5 minute commute, but because they did not get in they will accept Two Rivers which might be a 20-45 minute rush hour commute.

Likewise, in addition to commute distance, more children from a community might attend the nearby charter if there was a certain proximity preference, thus fostering a stronger relationship between the school and the immediate community and those families.

Would a percentage set-aside be of interest? Does your opinion vary based on whether you "won" a nearby school / are already in the charter system / etc. ? Does your opinion vary based on your proximity (or lack thereof) to charters that you would want your child to attend? Should the charter lottery always be completely open to the entire city for all schools and never factor in SES, proximity, or any other factor?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

You think you've just invented the wheel. NOBODY has had these conversations before. You couldn't possibly search them online, much less the beehive of DCUM.

Constructive response!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the Mayor already wants to allow this. http://wamu.org/story/17/03/08/d-c-officials-offer-details-proposed-walkability-preference-charters-concerns-remain/

Are you not aware of this, or do you work for the mayor and want to drum up discussion?

I think it's a dumb idea and will further distort the commercial and residential real estate markets.

But at least schools would be given the choice of offering it. It seems like relatively few charter are interested and most don't have very long wait lists anyway.

Is there a problem with drumming up discussion on a forum?

The Mayor's proposal is very limited and only applies to those who are not in proximity to a DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would offer it only to families displaced when a neighborhood school is closed and turned over to a charter. Aside from that, I think it further advantages those who can afford to choose where they live.

Not sure about that. The charter system seems to heavily advantage middle to high SES for the top 20 in demand schools, because that is those who can more easily arrange for transportation and there seems to be a snowball effect.

90 of the 115 charters are almost exclusively economically disadvantaged.

Seems to be quite a stratified system in its current state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Proximity preference for individual students eligible for free and reduced meals. There's my policy preference.

YES. Agreed.

+1 yup. giving higher SES families yet another way to up their chances is not needed. Charters are intended to offer some sort of unique curriculum (Montessori, language immersion, etc.) that traditional DCPS don't typically offer (yes, I know about Oyster, et al) and therefore, should provide equal access for all District residents. But if we want to shift the conversation slightly to one that would help poor children gain access to the the successful charter down the street from the public housing unit, then I'm all for it. And I'd go so far as to say that those charters should do outreach to those families to make them aware of their options.

So OP, if you're a college-educated professional earning a middle class salary who drives a car who's trying to figure out some angle to get a leg up for a HRCS in your hood be careful. Your self-serving attempt could quickly result in a policy that makes it more difficult for you to win a spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would offer it only to families displaced when a neighborhood school is closed and turned over to a charter. Aside from that, I think it further advantages those who can afford to choose where they live.

Not sure about that. The charter system seems to heavily advantage middle to high SES for the top 20 in demand schools, because that is those who can more easily arrange for transportation and there seems to be a snowball effect.

90 of the 115 charters are almost exclusively economically disadvantaged.

Seems to be quite a stratified system in its current state.

And DCPS has 86 Title I schools out of 111 so it seems as though Charters are in the same boat an able to handle a proximity preference especially for kids in need.

[Anonymous]

You know how parents will say they're moving to the suburbs for the better schools?
They aren't moving because there are more awesomely complex school choice systems. It's that the simple systems there work well.
Stop making it worse in DC.