Family Information Session

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Family Information Session
Choosing Boston schools for your child
Fall 2008
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Welcome!

• Benvindu!

Byenvini!
Bem-vindos!
Bienvenidos!
Chào m?ng!
Soo dhowaada!
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In this session, you will learn about
? changes to school options for 2009-2010

• how the student assignment process works

? how to make informed school choices
? how to register your child for school
and get answers to your questions!
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Pathways to Excellence Guiding Principles
? Expand excellence
? Increase access

• Ensure equity

for all Boston Public Schools families.
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Superintendents academic goals

• Reading by the end of Grade 1
• Reading to learn in Grade 3
• Skillful, analytical writing in Grade 7
• Algebra 1 in Grade 8
• On track to graduate by the end of Grade 10
• SAT I scores of 1650 and Excellence for All
• ELLs acquire academic language mastery and
  fluency
• College-ready and success-bound

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Pathways to Excellence More K-8 options
3 in September 1995 28 in September 2009
New K-8s next year Beethoven / Ohrenberger
West Roxbury Boston Teachers Union Pilot
Jamaica Plain Edison Brighton Grew / Rogers
Hyde Park (feeder pair) Higginson / Lewis
Roxbury King Dorchester Mildred Avenue -
Mattapan
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Pathways to Excellence More pilot school seats
New or expanded pilot schools next year Boston
Teachers Union Pilot Jamaica Plain Haley -
Roslindale Lyon (9-12) - Brighton TechBoston
Academy (6-12) Dorchester Young Achievers
Mattapan Under consideration Harbor (9-12) -
Dorchester
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Pathways to Excellence Graduation for All

• More rigorous and personalized high school
  programs to eliminate the dropout rate
• Capital investments to ensure full accreditation
• New high school at Dorchester Education Complex
• Newcomers Academy
• Transition / Truancy Center
• More Advanced Placement and dual enrollment
  opportunities

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Pathways to Excellence Innovation and
enrichment

• Montessori programs
• International Baccalaureate
• Two-way bilingual programs
• Citywide marching band

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How does the student assignment process work?
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High school students may apply to any school in
the city.
For elementary and middle schools, the district
is organized into three geographic zones.
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Families may apply to any elementary or middle
school in their assignment zone
and any citywide school
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Walk Zone Priority
Families get walk zone priority to any
elementary school within 1 mile of home middle
school within 1½ miles of home high school
within 2 miles of home
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X
Families may apply to any school in their walk
zone, including schools across zone lines.
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(No Transcript)
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Sibling priority
To help keep families in the same school,
siblings are assigned first.
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Wait lists

• If there are more applicants for a school than
  available seats, students will be placed on wait
  lists.
• There isnt a cap on the length of any wait
  list.
• Students will be placed on wait lists based on
  their priorities for that school, their random
  number, and the registration period in which the
  family applied.
• Any Boston resident may remain on a schools wait
  list after the school year begins, even if the
  student does not attend a Boston Public School.

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The formula

• BPS uses a mathematical formula to assign
  students to schools.
• A new formula adopted in 2005 was designed to
  simplify the school choice process for families.
• ? It enables parents to list their true choices
  of schools, in true order of preference, without
  having to strategize about the rank order.

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What is my random number?

• Every student applying for schools is given a
  random number generated by computer. (A lower
  random number is better than a higher number.)
• This number is used to order students who have
  the same priority to a particular school.
• ? The random number can be thought of as a
  tiebreaker among groups of similar students.

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How assignments are made
In each school, seats are filled based on
a combination of factors for each child,
including
Registration period (round)
Priorities (sibling, walk zone, etc.)
Family preferences (school choices)
Random number
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How can I make informed school choices for my
child?
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Do your homework
School Preview Time November 3, 2008 through
January 23, 2009 Every elementary, K-8, middle
and high school

• Tour schools
• Meet principals, teachers and parents
• Learn about programs
• Ask questions
• Call the school to RSVP

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What are my schools? www.bostonpublicschools.org
/register/
1216 Dorchester Ave
02125
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Do your homework
Citywide Showcase of Schools Saturday, December
13, 2008 100 p.m. 400 p.m. Reggie Lewis
Track and Field Center, Roxbury
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Separate FACT from FICTION Make your choices
based on what you see for yourself.
Other Resources www.bostonpublicschools.org/school
s/ Introducing the Boston Public
Schools Countdown to Kindergarten Y/BPS
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How do I register for schools for September 2009?
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The registration process WHEN
For the best chance of assignment to one of your
top school choices, be sure to apply any time
during the first registration period for your
childs grade
Kindergarten and Grades 6 and 9 January 5
February 6, 2009
All other grades February 11 March 20, 2008
Including applications to transfer from one
Boston Public School to another
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The registration process WHEN
For faster service during the first registration
period, visit a Family Resource Center based on
the schedule by parents last name
All applications received during the same
registration period are processed at the same
time!
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The registration process WHERE
Families may register at any Family Resource
Center (FRC)
North Zone Gloria Smith, Director 55 Malcolm X
Blvd., Roxbury 617-635-9010
West Zone Lori Cox, Director 515 Hyde Park Ave.,
Roslindale 617-635-8040
East Zone Peggy Soto, Director 1216 Dorchester
Ave., Dorchester 617-635-8015
New in 2009 Saturday registration!  The East
Zone FRC (1216 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester) will
be open on the following Saturdays from 900 a.m.
- 1200 noon. Jan. 10, 17, 24, and 31.
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The registration process WHERE
or any Satellite Office
Umana Middle School Academy 315 Border St., East
Boston 617-635-9695 Tuesdays, 830 a.m. 500
p.m. Jan. 5 Feb. 6, Weekdays, 830 a.m.
500 p.m.
Jackson/Mann School 40 Armington St.,
Allston 617-635-8532, x222 Thursdays, 830 a.m.
500 p.m. Jan. 26-30, 830 a.m. 5 p.m.
Boston City Hall Downtown, Government Center Room
801 January 12-16, 2009 830 a.m. 500 p.m.
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The registration process WHERE
In January, students already enrolled in the
Boston Public Schools will receive a pre-printed
application if they are entering a transition
grade (such as Grade 6 or 9) next year.
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The registration process HOW
Families new to BPS must bring to the FRC

• Pre-printed proofs of current address
• www.bostonpublicschools.org/residency/
• Up-to-date immunization records
• Childs original birth certificate, passport or
  I-94 form (Kindergarten and Grade 1 only)

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Proofs of current address
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Up-to-date immunization records
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Childs original birth certificate, passport or
I-94 form
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The registration process HOW
Age requirements

• For Grade 1 6 years old by September 1, 2009
• For K2 5 years old by September 1, 2009
• For K1 4 years old by September 1, 2009

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The registration process HOW
To improve your chances of being assigned to one
of your top choice schools

• Select at least 5 schools ideally more than
  five!
• Be sure your list includes some schools where
  your child has a priority such as walk zone or
  sibling.
• Include a mix of schools that are easier or
  harder to get into, including some lesser-known
  schools considered hidden gems.

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The registration process HOW
To save time during registration, you
can pre-register online using BPS
Express. www.bostonpublicschools.org/register/

• Log on from any computer with an Internet
  connection from home, libraries, FRCs.
• Complete your application form in advance.
• All families new to BPS must complete the
  application process at any FRC to submit
  documents.

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The registration process RECAP
Ready Set Go!

• Find out your list of eligible schools
  www.bostonpublicschools.org/register/
  (or visit a Family Resource Center)
• Attend the Showcase of Schools
• Gather all documents you need for registration
• Visit schools during School Preview Time
• Pre-register online using BPS Express
• Submit your complete application

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What happens after registration?
Assignment notices are mailed out 5-6 weeks after
the end of each registration period. They include
the name of the assigned school, your childs
transportation eligibility for that school, and
any schools where youre on a wait list. Complete
and return the RSVP form to accept the
assignment and/or be removed from any wait list,
or visit a Family Resource Center.
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What if I dont get any of my choices?
Most students who are not assigned to any of the
schools they selected will receive an
administrative assignment to another
school. When making administrative assignments,
we try to place students in the closest school
where there are available seats. Exception Most
students younger than 6 years old will not
receive an administrative assignment. Any family
pre-K through Grade 12 may return to a Family
Resource Center to make new choices.
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What about other programs?
The process described in this session applies to
all students in regular education. The assignment
process for students in special education
programs and programs for English Language
Learners (ELL) is slightly different. Staff from
the Special Education and English Language
Learners offices are here to answer questions
about these programs.
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The school year begins
Thursday, September 10, 2009 for students in
Grades 1-12
Monday, September 14, 2008 for Kindergarten
students
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Questions