Boston school officials announce public process for student assignment review

BOSTON – The Boston School Committee and Superintendent Carol R. Johnson today announced a community engagement process for review of the Boston Public Schools’ student assignment and transportation policies.

Earlier this year, Dr. Johnson presented the School Committee with a preliminary proposal to replace the current three-zone model for assigning elementary and middle school students with a five-zone model. Under the current model, families applying to the Boston Public Schools for pre-kindergarten through grade 8 may choose from schools within one of three assignment zones, as well as any school within a certain distance of their home. All Boston public high schools assign students on a citywide basis.

The proposal would expand the number of assignment zones to five. Dr. Johnson noted that a new approach to student assignment would seek to achieve several objectives, including:

• Offer all families a range of quality school choices;
• Provide educational continuity;
• Promote family engagement in schools;
• Create walkable communities; and
• Reduce transportation costs.

The public engagement process includes a series of community meetings as well as several School Committee meetings for presentations and testimony before a vote at the end of June. Any modifications to the current policy approved by the School Committee would take effect during the Winter 2010 registration process, for September 2010 assignments. No proposals have been presented to change the student assignment policy for the 2009-2010 school year.

The Superintendent and the School Committee expressed their commitment to hearing from students, families, staff and others about the proposed changes.

The public engagement schedule is as follows, with all meetings scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.:

Wednesday, April 29
School Committee Meeting
Presentation of revised 5-zone student assignment proposal
Winter Chambers, 26 Court St., Downtown

Thursday, May 7
Community Meeting
Umana Middle School Academy, 312 Border St., East Boston

Tuesday, May 12
Community Meeting
Edison Middle School, 60 Glenmont Road, Brighton

Monday, May 18
Community Meeting
Lewis Middle School, 131 Walnut Ave., Roxbury

Wednesday, May 20
Community Meeting
McCormack Middle School, 315 Mt. Vernon St., Dorchester

Tuesday, May 26
Community Meeting
Irving Middle School, 105 Cummins Highway, Roslindale

Wednesday, June 3
School Committee Meeting – Recommendation from Superintendent
Winter Chambers, 26 Court St., Downtown

Wednesday, June 24
School Committee Meeting – Vote
Winter Chambers, 26 Court St., Downtown

For more information, visit www.bostonpublicschools.org/zones.

Flier: Community meeting schedule