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Schools

Doing homework can soften 'choice' plan

By DONNA WINCHESTER
Published February 1, 2006

It's time once again for Pinellas County parents to choose public schools for their children.

The good news this year is that the application period, which opens today for some programs, is closer to August 2006, the start of the school year for which parents are applying. Another plus is that the process has been streamlined.

But the district's "controlled choice" method of assigning students to schools still can be hard to follow.

That's why we're reprising our weekly Choice column. We can't guarantee you'll get your top choice by following our tips. Our goal simply is to make the school selection and application process a little easier to navigate.

So let's begin at the beginning. How do you know if you have to be concerned with all this?

YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR SCHOOLS IF:

You want your child to attend a public kindergarten next year.

Your child will be transferring to the district from a private school.

Your child will enter middle school or high school next year and doesn't qualify for extended grandfathering into his old zoned school.

You're not happy with the school your child currently attends and want to take a chance on applying for another school.

WHERE TO BEGIN: If you're brand new to the district - in other words, if you have an incoming kindergartener or if your child is transferring from a private school or is returning to the district - you must register before you can apply for a school.

To register, you must come to a Family Education and Information Center, where your child will be assigned a 10-digit ID number. Parents also can register on Saturday at the Magnet/Choice Information Fair at Pinellas Park High School. (Please see our "Tip of the Week" for details.)

The St. Petersburg FEIC at 3420 Eighth Ave. S is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The Clearwater FEIC at 1101 Marshall St. is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Here's what you'll need to bring:

A birth certificate or other proof of birth, such as a baptism certificate, insurance policy or passport showing the child's age.

Proof of residency, such as a lease, utility bill or tax statement.

The child's most recent report card, unless the child is entering kindergarten.

Once you have a 10-digit ID number, you're ready to make an application. Your first opportunity to do that begins today and continues through Feb. 17. This first of two application periods is for magnet and fundamental schools and high school career academies. You will find a link where you can view a list of these schools at www.pinellas.k12.fl.us/magnet/home.html.

The second application period, from March 21 to April 9, will be for attendance area schools.

HOW TO APPLY TO A COUNTYWIDE MAGNET, FUNDAMENTAL OR CAREER ACADEMY PROGRAM: Applications are made by phone only. The number, (727) 501-0871, was turned on at 12:01 this morning and will operate 24 hours a day until midnight Feb. 17.

Before you call, locate the 10-digit ID number you received after you registered or for parents who already were in the system, the number on your child's report card and the six-digit "program ID" number for each school you want to apply to. Those numbers are available in the district's Choice Information Guide, available at any school, public library, the FEICs, or online at www.pinellaschoice.org

If a sibling already attends the school to which you are applying and will be there for the 2006-07 school year, you will need the sibling's ID number so the child applying will get "sibling priority."

The phone system will guide you through a four-step process in which you can apply for multiple schools. But if you have more than one child applying, you must make separate calls for each student.

After you have made your selections, the phone system will recite your choices. If you want to change your mind about your selections, you can call back any time before midnight on Feb. 17.

COMING NEXT WEEK: What comes next in the application process for magnet, fundamental and career academy programs?

Plan to attend the Magnet/Choice Information Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Pinellas Park High School, 6305 118th Ave. N. Parents can pick up school brochures, talk with school representatives and begin the new student registration process at this annual "one-stop shopping event."

[Last modified February 1, 2006, 01:03:19]