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Don't wait until 2003 to choose a school
By KATHARINE SNOW SMITH © St. Petersburg Times, published October 29, 2000 School choice won't go into effect until 2003, but between now and then parents have some work to do -- first, get a handle on exactly what school choice is. Then research the schools to identify the one that best suits their child.
The Pinellas school district will be divided into several attendance areas. Students, or most likely parents, will choose their favorite schools in those zones and a computer will process the applications. The district hopes that each school will be the first or second choice of at least 80 percent of the students enrolled there. Schools falling short of that benchmark will face a closer scrutiny that could include an evaluation of curricula, personnel, and perhaps a survey of the parents who rejected that school. "Parents are really more in the driver's seat with school choice," said David Mosrie, superintendent in St. Lucie County when that district enacted school choice in 1991. "They can actually design schools that meet the needs of their children." Toward that end, Pinellas schools have been advised this year to begin developing "attractors," characteristics that set them apart. The magnet and fundamental programs are already well-known. The zoned schools, in an attempt to distinguish themselves, may emphasize writing, or math and social studies applicable to everyday living, or stricter discipline policies. "On the elementary level the curriculum is pretty standardized," said Marlene Mueller, director of pupil assignment for the district. "But even so there may be different ways schools will deal with achieving those (school choice) goals." In St. Lucie County in 1991, "most schools were pretty much the same so parents chose on the basis of location and convenience," said Mosrie, who is now the associate executive officer of the Florida Association for District School Superintendents. "As the schools recognized what could develop, they became pretty competitive." Three elementary schools became heavy technology schools, starting at the pre-kindergarten level. Others emphasized Spanish in all areas of learning. One mandated school uniforms and strict discipline. Some parents were concerned that schools overall weren't focusing enough on the arts. So they worked with the district to transform one elementary school that taught dance, piano and visual arts, and had extensive offerings after school. St. Lucie County's goal was for 90 percent of students to get their first or second preference. But in that first year of school choice, only 70 percent got their top preferences and some children ended up at the schools that few people requested. "Our first year we had one school where less than 50 percent of the students had picked it as their first or second choice. We went in and made a complete change in the faculty, the principal, and developed a different curriculum," Mosrie said. "By the third year, we had to turn people away because so many people were requesting this school." Mosrie's advice for parents in Pinellas is to start inspecting the schools, talk to teachers and to parents of already-enrolled students. Schools aren't accustomed to having to market themselves, but they'll have to start making their pitches soon. In St. Lucie, some schools set up booths at the mall. The district also went into churches, synagogues, day-care centers and private preschools to tout different schools' strengths and programs. There were sessions with real estate agents so they could educate newcomers wanting to buy a house near the best schools. Pinellas County's "first family education center" could be open as early as this spring. The center will provide information on each school and its "attractors." "We will also have mobile centers," Mueller said. "We know parents can't always get to the centers, so we want to go to them." By the 2001-2002 school year, schools will be expecting lots of tours and visitors. Mueller suggested that parents call ahead to set up an appointment. Another way to rate schools and narrow your choices is to look at test scores. Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test results are available through the district or on the Internet. You can see what percentage of students at each school scored above certain standards, said Alex Epanchin, the district's director of testing. The Web site address is http://www.firn.edu/doe/bin00018/. Some parents even look ahead to high school. A national company called School Match produces "report cards" on high schools across the country that look at such things as college entrance exam scores and scholarship winners. The report cards cost $49. For more information, call 1-800-724-6651 or click on http://schoolmatch.com. The other step parents can take now to prepare for the new world of school choice is to move closer to a school they want their child to attend. There is no guarantee, but there will be some preference given to a percentage of a school's students based on their address. Mueller said she has no doubt that people will start moving around the district to improve their chances of getting into the school they want. "Some people bought their house when their child was 6 months old because they want their child to go to a certain high school," she said. "I've had people call me when the mother just found out she is pregnant to find out what schools (their children are slated to attend). And then there are some people who don't think about it until the first day of school."
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