I agree the implications are potentially different for Hearst depending upon the way the lottery preferences are administered. In other words IF the at risk preference is awarded only up to a certain threshold above the 10% min set aside that could probably work - eg up to say 20%.... IF however the at risk presence applies all the way up to 100% of the OOB spots I think it could really change the dynamic of a school like Hearst which has a majority OOB population currently but not a large percentage of at risk kids

I agree with an at risk preference in concept but I think it needs to be implemented gradually and there should be a max % as well as a min. And I think that max should be less than 30%. Anyone else hear that npr piece not too long ago about the studies on mixed achievement level groups and they found the optimal mix (ie the lower achievers performance was improved without negatively impacting the high or middle achievers ) was right about 20%

Obviously I don't believe at risk necessarily means Lower achieving in every case but as a rough proxy it is reasonable

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At risk parents are in every ward of the city, not just wards 7 and 8. All the spots at the wotp schools will go to at risk students.

I think you overestimate the desire of at risk families to have their kids attend WOTP school. You should not confuse "at risk" with "FARMS". If the mandate was FARMS and not "At Risk" then I believe all of those spots would be taken. But that is not the case.

And I think you are underestimating the desire of at-risk parents to find a good school for their kid. Just because a family is getting public benefits does not mean that they don't care about the quality of education.

I realize that. And I realize that there are at risk kids in all parts of the city but I seriously doubt their numbers would register on any scale in ward 3. While there will certainly be at risk families that choose a WOTP school because they are considered the best in the city, there will be others that would never consider a WOTP school for fear their child would be made to feel unwelcome or worse, labeled. There are highly educated AAs in this city that won't send their kids to JKLM's OOBs for this reason. There are some really great schools EOTP and on the Hill that would serve these children just as well, if not better, and this fact is not lost on some at risk families.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At risk parents are in every ward of the city, not just wards 7 and 8. All the spots at the wotp schools will go to at risk students.

I think you overestimate the desire of at risk families to have their kids attend WOTP school. You should not confuse "at risk" with "FARMS". If the mandate was FARMS and not "At Risk" then I believe all of those spots would be taken. But that is not the case.

And I think you are underestimating the desire of at-risk parents to find a good school for their kid. Just because a family is getting public benefits does not mean that they don't care about the quality of education.

Anonymous wrote:At risk parents are in every ward of the city, not just wards 7 and 8. All the spots at the wotp schools will go to at risk students.

I think you overestimate the desire of at risk families to have their kids attend WOTP school. You should not confuse "at risk" with "FARMS". If the mandate was FARMS and not "At Risk" then I believe all of those spots would be taken. But that is not the case.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe someone can answer this question - using Lafayette as an example, suppose the school is at 100% capacity with all in-bounds students. If no at risk OOB kids select Lafayette (commute too difficult) would the school admit any OOB students other than siblings? Put another way, if the school is otherwise at capacity, do any OOB students other than at-risk even get to apply?

If the at risk students didn't apply, then it would be a regular OOB lottery. They would not be able to get out of the OOB requirement.

Maybe someone can answer this question - using Lafayette as an example, suppose the school is at 100% capacity with all in-bounds students. If no at risk OOB kids select Lafayette (commute too difficult) would the school admit any OOB students other than siblings? Put another way, if the school is otherwise at capacity, do any OOB students other than at-risk even get to apply?

At risk parents are in every ward of the city, not just wards 7 and 8. All the spots at the wotp schools will go to at risk students.

I repeat-- At risk parents would have to select Hearst as a first choice school and do so overwhelmingly for Hearst to get a higher percentage than any other school on the "less than 30% at risk" list.

I suspect, as a poster on another thread noted, this is more of an issue for schools on Capitol Hill than Ward 3.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take a look at the new OOB preference proposed by the DME prioritizing at-risk kids (homeless, foster children) over all other OOB boundary children in lottery.

Would this proposal significantly increase the number of at-risk kids attending Hearst and crowd out all middle-class OOB families.

Seems like the implications of this policy could be far reaching for Hearst. Can someone explain?

Hearst is definitely on the list of schools that has to give priority in the lottery to at risk students. So while the number of OOB students may remain the same, they are more likely to be the lowest income students (homeless, in foster care, on welfare or getting food stamps).

Where is this list of school that have to give priority in the lottery to at risk students? My understanding is that all schools must give priority to at risk students. Not just a select few.

No, only schools with less than 30% at risk students have to give it. They flashed it on the breakout session screen last night, but it was too fast for me to write them all down. Would be great if someone could get it tomorrow. Hearst is definitely in the list, though.

If that's the case, then Hearst would still not receive a higher percentage of at risk kids than any other school in this group and the at risk families would still have to select Hearst as a first choice option. I do not believe DCPS will be arbitrarily placing kids wherever there's a spot. The parents have to choose the school.

Bottom line is that the implications are no different for Hearst than any other school unless large numbers of at risk families determine Hearst is a first choice for them (which is unlikely).

The difference is that Hearst takes more OOB kids than JKLMM, and all of them will be at risk. So the implications for Hearst are different from other schools.

On what basis can you say that every OOB kid that comes to Hearst would be at-risk?

Agree, most of the OOB kids I know at various schools are far from at risk.

That's because there isn't an at risk preference right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take a look at the new OOB preference proposed by the DME prioritizing at-risk kids (homeless, foster children) over all other OOB boundary children in lottery.

Would this proposal significantly increase the number of at-risk kids attending Hearst and crowd out all middle-class OOB families.

Seems like the implications of this policy could be far reaching for Hearst. Can someone explain?

Hearst is definitely on the list of schools that has to give priority in the lottery to at risk students. So while the number of OOB students may remain the same, they are more likely to be the lowest income students (homeless, in foster care, on welfare or getting food stamps).

Where is this list of school that have to give priority in the lottery to at risk students? My understanding is that all schools must give priority to at risk students. Not just a select few.

No, only schools with less than 30% at risk students have to give it. They flashed it on the breakout session screen last night, but it was too fast for me to write them all down. Would be great if someone could get it tomorrow. Hearst is definitely in the list, though.

If that's the case, then Hearst would still not receive a higher percentage of at risk kids than any other school in this group and the at risk families would still have to select Hearst as a first choice option. I do not believe DCPS will be arbitrarily placing kids wherever there's a spot. The parents have to choose the school.

Bottom line is that the implications are no different for Hearst than any other school unless large numbers of at risk families determine Hearst is a first choice for them (which is unlikely).

The difference is that Hearst takes more OOB kids than JKLMM, and all of them will be at risk. So the implications for Hearst are different from other schools.

On what basis can you say that every OOB kid that comes to Hearst would be at-risk?

The lottery preference would apply to all OOB seats at Hearst, which those wotp may not find desirable but to those with really crappy schools, it's a great school. There are lots of at risk people in every ward (it was in a slide last night), although more in some wards than others--I don't think transportation would be a barrier. We are not talking about 10% of the kids in this city qualifying for at risk status--it's nearly half of the kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take a look at the new OOB preference proposed by the DME prioritizing at-risk kids (homeless, foster children) over all other OOB boundary children in lottery.

Would this proposal significantly increase the number of at-risk kids attending Hearst and crowd out all middle-class OOB families.

Seems like the implications of this policy could be far reaching for Hearst. Can someone explain?

Hearst is definitely on the list of schools that has to give priority in the lottery to at risk students. So while the number of OOB students may remain the same, they are more likely to be the lowest income students (homeless, in foster care, on welfare or getting food stamps).

Where is this list of school that have to give priority in the lottery to at risk students? My understanding is that all schools must give priority to at risk students. Not just a select few.

No, only schools with less than 30% at risk students have to give it. They flashed it on the breakout session screen last night, but it was too fast for me to write them all down. Would be great if someone could get it tomorrow. Hearst is definitely in the list, though.

If that's the case, then Hearst would still not receive a higher percentage of at risk kids than any other school in this group and the at risk families would still have to select Hearst as a first choice option. I do not believe DCPS will be arbitrarily placing kids wherever there's a spot. The parents have to choose the school.

Bottom line is that the implications are no different for Hearst than any other school unless large numbers of at risk families determine Hearst is a first choice for them (which is unlikely).

The difference is that Hearst takes more OOB kids than JKLMM, and all of them will be at risk. So the implications for Hearst are different from other schools.

On what basis can you say that every OOB kid that comes to Hearst would be at-risk?

Agree, most of the OOB kids I know at various schools are far from at risk.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take a look at the new OOB preference proposed by the DME prioritizing at-risk kids (homeless, foster children) over all other OOB boundary children in lottery.

Would this proposal significantly increase the number of at-risk kids attending Hearst and crowd out all middle-class OOB families.

Seems like the implications of this policy could be far reaching for Hearst. Can someone explain?

Hearst is definitely on the list of schools that has to give priority in the lottery to at risk students. So while the number of OOB students may remain the same, they are more likely to be the lowest income students (homeless, in foster care, on welfare or getting food stamps).

Where is this list of school that have to give priority in the lottery to at risk students? My understanding is that all schools must give priority to at risk students. Not just a select few.

No, only schools with less than 30% at risk students have to give it. They flashed it on the breakout session screen last night, but it was too fast for me to write them all down. Would be great if someone could get it tomorrow. Hearst is definitely in the list, though.

If that's the case, then Hearst would still not receive a higher percentage of at risk kids than any other school in this group and the at risk families would still have to select Hearst as a first choice option. I do not believe DCPS will be arbitrarily placing kids wherever there's a spot. The parents have to choose the school.

Bottom line is that the implications are no different for Hearst than any other school unless large numbers of at risk families determine Hearst is a first choice for them (which is unlikely).

The difference is that Hearst takes more OOB kids than JKLMM, and all of them will be at risk. So the implications for Hearst are different from other schools.

On what basis can you say that every OOB kid that comes to Hearst would be at-risk?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take a look at the new OOB preference proposed by the DME prioritizing at-risk kids (homeless, foster children) over all other OOB boundary children in lottery.

Would this proposal significantly increase the number of at-risk kids attending Hearst and crowd out all middle-class OOB families.

Seems like the implications of this policy could be far reaching for Hearst. Can someone explain?

Hearst is definitely on the list of schools that has to give priority in the lottery to at risk students. So while the number of OOB students may remain the same, they are more likely to be the lowest income students (homeless, in foster care, on welfare or getting food stamps).

Where is this list of school that have to give priority in the lottery to at risk students? My understanding is that all schools must give priority to at risk students. Not just a select few.

No, only schools with less than 30% at risk students have to give it. They flashed it on the breakout session screen last night, but it was too fast for me to write them all down. Would be great if someone could get it tomorrow. Hearst is definitely in the list, though.

If that's the case, then Hearst would still not receive a higher percentage of at risk kids than any other school in this group and the at risk families would still have to select Hearst as a first choice option. I do not believe DCPS will be arbitrarily placing kids wherever there's a spot. The parents have to choose the school.

Bottom line is that the implications are no different for Hearst than any other school unless large numbers of at risk families determine Hearst is a first choice for them (which is unlikely).

The difference is that Hearst takes more OOB kids than JKLMM, and all of them will be at risk. So the implications for Hearst are different from other schools.

However, more IB families are choosing Hearst each year, which would drop the overall number OOB kids if that pattern continues, right? Either way, Hearst seems poised for some really good things in the next couple of years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take a look at the new OOB preference proposed by the DME prioritizing at-risk kids (homeless, foster children) over all other OOB boundary children in lottery.

Would this proposal significantly increase the number of at-risk kids attending Hearst and crowd out all middle-class OOB families.

Seems like the implications of this policy could be far reaching for Hearst. Can someone explain?

Hearst is definitely on the list of schools that has to give priority in the lottery to at risk students. So while the number of OOB students may remain the same, they are more likely to be the lowest income students (homeless, in foster care, on welfare or getting food stamps).

Where is this list of school that have to give priority in the lottery to at risk students? My understanding is that all schools must give priority to at risk students. Not just a select few.

No, only schools with less than 30% at risk students have to give it. They flashed it on the breakout session screen last night, but it was too fast for me to write them all down. Would be great if someone could get it tomorrow. Hearst is definitely in the list, though.

If that's the case, then Hearst would still not receive a higher percentage of at risk kids than any other school in this group and the at risk families would still have to select Hearst as a first choice option. I do not believe DCPS will be arbitrarily placing kids wherever there's a spot. The parents have to choose the school.

Bottom line is that the implications are no different for Hearst than any other school unless large numbers of at risk families determine Hearst is a first choice for them (which is unlikely).

The difference is that Hearst takes more OOB kids than JKLMM, and all of them will be at risk. So the implications for Hearst are different from other schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take a look at the new OOB preference proposed by the DME prioritizing at-risk kids (homeless, foster children) over all other OOB boundary children in lottery.

Would this proposal significantly increase the number of at-risk kids attending Hearst and crowd out all middle-class OOB families.

Seems like the implications of this policy could be far reaching for Hearst. Can someone explain?

Hearst is definitely on the list of schools that has to give priority in the lottery to at risk students. So while the number of OOB students may remain the same, they are more likely to be the lowest income students (homeless, in foster care, on welfare or getting food stamps).

Where is this list of school that have to give priority in the lottery to at risk students? My understanding is that all schools must give priority to at risk students. Not just a select few.

No, only schools with less than 30% at risk students have to give it. They flashed it on the breakout session screen last night, but it was too fast for me to write them all down. Would be great if someone could get it tomorrow. Hearst is definitely in the list, though.

If that's the case, then Hearst would still not receive a higher percentage of at risk kids than any other school in this group and the at risk families would still have to select Hearst as a first choice option. I do not believe DCPS will be arbitrarily placing kids wherever there's a spot. The parents have to choose the school.

Bottom line is that the implications are no different for Hearst than any other school unless large numbers of at risk families determine Hearst is a first choice for them (which is unlikely).