Middle School Choice Meeting Agenda

1. Middle School Choice Meeting Agenda DRAFT

2. Expanding Great Options – Year 2 Implementation of Middle School Choice board approved February 23, 2010 DRAFT

3. Presentation Overview • Overview of Middle School Choice Theory of Action • Why Middle School Choice? • Who Gets to Choose (Which Students are Impacted)? • How do Students Choose? • What Schools can They Choose From? • How Will Students be Placed? • What are the Key Dates for Implementation • Addendums • Recommended action plans for sending and receiving schools DRAFT

4. Key Questions: Overview • Why should middle school choice be part of middle school reform? • Who would get to choose? What are their choices? Do all students get equal access to all options? • What about logistics – communication, selection & placement processes, transportation? • Fundamental Change Needed: Our middle schools need to change dramatically so students want to attend them. • Middle School Choice won’t be successful without great options for middle school students. • EGO recommendations focus on turning around middle schools in significant ways to ensure great options. DRAFT

5. Our middle schools need a mix of students. Why Middle School Choice? • Currently, the least advantaged students and lowest performing students are concentrated in zoned middle schools. The charts below reflect the current 6th graders in different school configurations.* * Special education schools, alternative schools, and 4 elementary/middle schools are not included in this analysis. DRAFT

6. Why Middle School Choice? • Our middle schools need students who want to be there. • Our middle school zones are no longer appropriate. • Turning around these schools will require cultivating new school cultures with stronger student buy-in. • Many middle school reform proposals include establishing themes. • Those 5th graders with the means are already exercising choice by applying for transformations & charter schools. • Middle school zones are already geographically large and growing as additional failing middle schools are closed. • Existing zones are poor predictors of where 5th graders go to middle school, and middle school buildings are underutilized. DRAFT

7. Who Gets to Choose? • Mandatory choice – no automatic enrollment in zone school • Higher priority for admission to middle & transformation schools, based on student address in “quadrant” of city • Equal priority for admission to charter schools • 5th graders at elementary schools • Optional choice - can stay at or feed to assigned elementary/middle • Lower priority for admission to middle & transformation schools • Equal priority for admission to charter schools • 5th graders zoned to elementary/ middle* • Optional choice - can stay at the K-8 • Lower priority for admission to middle & transformation schools • Equal priority for admission to charter schools • 5th graders at K-8* *Elementary/middle schools are distinguished from K-8 because they have more than one elementary school feeding into the middle grades. 7 DRAFT

8. How many students are directly involved? 35% of 5th graders will make a choice of a school for 6th grade. *5th grade enrollment as of February 18, 2010. **Also includes two non-zoned charter schools. ***Includes KIPP with grades 5-8. DRAFT

9. How do students choose? A combined application process will allow for the clearest process for students and parents: • Transformation Original Process (handled by Tammie Knight) • Feb 25th Deadline  Collect transformation applications from transformation schools via excel and hard copy • Crosswalk Lists (est. at less than 100 students) • Load into SPS- MS Choice Application System(via temporary support in OSP) • New MS Choice Application Process, by April 30th • Priority 1-> Apply at current K-5 school; school enters into SPS • Priority 2 (including new students) -> Submit application to OSP by mail or walk-in (OSP enters in SPS via temporary support) DRAFT

10. What are the Middle School Choices?* * Based on current EGO recommendations. 10 DRAFT

11. Proposed Middle School Choice Options SY10-11* 72% of grades 6-8 students in these schools currently attend a school in the quadrant where they live. * Based on current EGO recommendations. DRAFT

12. MS Choice Assignment Approach • Students currently in schools will have first option to attend new school in same building if grade levels are available • Then follow preference priority for placing rising 5th grades Preference Priority • Sibling already attends the school • In Quadrant; Students in K-5 schools who historically would be zoned to a traditional middle school • Out of Quadrant; Students in K-5 schools who historically would be zoned to a traditional middle school • In Quadrant; Students in K-8 schools or K-5 schools zoned to elementary/middle school • Out of Quadrant; Students in K-8 schools or K-5 schools zoned to elementary/middle school DRAFT

13. Middle School Choice Implementation Note: Middle grades students may be eligible for MTA bus tickets depending the distance from their residence to school.. DRAFT

14. Key Dates for Parents and Schools Note: MS Guide timing and information may delay MS Fair and choice applications due dates to schools. Students currently attending schools proposed for closure will participate in school-based choice processes. DRAFT

15. Other Key Implementation Dates for Schools Note: SeeAction Plans for Sending and Receiving schools for more detailed requirements and recommendations. DRAFT

16. For More Information:Jonathan Brice, Executive DirectorOffice of Student Support & Safety JBrice@bcps.k12.md.us410-396-8672 DRAFT

17. Break-Out Sessions- Sending Schools (Rm 100) DRAFT

18. Break-Out Sessions- Receiving Schools (Rm 101) DRAFT