November 21, 2011. September 27, 2010 the Board requested an independent consultant study, review, and recommend adjustments to the Student Assignment.

Student Assignment

Work SessionNovember 21, 2011

September 27, 2010 the Board requested an independent consultant study, review, and recommend adjustments to the Student Assignment Plan

Dr. Gary Orfield performed this evaluation and made several recommendations to the Board in September 2011

Staff studied and revised these recommendations

Student Assignment

Review included staff from the Offices of Student Assignment, Research and Evaluation, Transportation, MIS, ESL, Communications, General Counsel and Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools

This afternoon, we are presenting highlights of a new student assignment plan

Student Assignment

Considerations

Uses most recent census information Recognizes existing diversity within smaller geographic areas

Each cluster falls within the diversity guideline

No cluster has a majority of students from Category 1

Opportunities to apply for magnets remain the same

Considerations

We expect more students could be assigned closer to home than under the current plan

Reduces longest bus rides for students in most clusters

Current bus routes should accommodate students who are grandfathered

Most transportation routes to day care centers will remain the same

Additional buses will not need to be purchased to support this plan

Considerations

Significant elements

Students will apply in kindergarten only Minimal boundary changes at elementary

level to help with capacity issues Elementary schools will be arranged in 12

clusters Students in K-4 in 2011-12 impacted by

cluster or boundary changes will be grandfathered to remain at current school

Significant elements

Each school shall have a diversity guideline between 1.4-2.5

Guideline will be applied to students in Kindergarten, 6th & 9th grades in 2012-13

English As a Second Language students will be included in the diversity guideline

Significant Elements

Diversity

Definition is based on most recent census data which shows changes in our community over the last 10 years◦Population has grown and shifted◦Minority population has increased

Based on block groups Factors considered: income, race, educational

attainment of total population More accurately describes the diversity which

exists in communities This plan designates each block group in the

district as a 1, 2 or 3

Definition of Diversity

Category 1 Category 2 Category 3

Income Less than $42,000

$42,000-$62,000

More than $62,000

% white Less than 73 % 73-88% More than 88%

Educational Attainment

Less than 3.5 3.5-3.7 More than 3.7

Diversity CategoriesEach block group is defined as a 1, 2 or 3 based on this formula

Block Group Combined Category= 1+ .23 x (income category) + .33 x (education category) + .33 x (% white category)

Cluster Configuration

12 Cluster Plan Analysis 11/9/11 – Elementary Resides Students

ClusterNumber of

Schools

Total K-5 Cluster

Capacity No

Magnets

Student Count w/o Traditional, Magnet, or

Special Needs

Available Capacity

Average Diversity

Score % Cat. 1 % Cat. 2 % Cat. 3 % FRL % Minority % Af-Am

Cluster 1 8 3927 3544 383 1.76 28% 68% 4% 80% 40% 32%

Cluster 2 7 3847 3087 760 1.61 41% 57% 2% 80% 57% 51%

Cluster 3 7 3764 3107 657 1.7 34% 63% 3% 79% 41% 18%

Cluster 4 7 3957 3750 207 1.72 49% 50% 1% 86% 56% 36%

Cluster 5 7 3879 3724 155 1.73 33% 66% 1% 76% 49% 37%

Cluster 6 6 2896 2234 662 1.63 40% 58% 2% 81% 57% 40%

Cluster 7 6 3461 3418 43 1.98 32% 38% 30% 64% 55% 37%

Cluster 8 6 3614 3502 112 1.75 37% 52% 11% 65% 53% 34%

Cluster 9 7 4138 3934 204 2.32 23% 22% 55% 47% 43% 30%

Cluster 10 7 3816 3733 83 2.12 32% 25% 43% 59% 52% 39%

Cluster 11 8 5051 4332 719 2.24 27% 22% 51% 54% 51% 37%

Cluster 12 6 3131 2014 1117 2.16 31% 23% 46% 55% 42% 33% 82 45481 40379 1.91 32% 46% 22% 68% 50% 35%

Discussion