Here's an abbreviated recap of today's update on the Wake County student assignment plan.

Staff is proposing splitting the magnet schools into three groups with varying level of magnet and application seats. Group one schools, largely those around Southeast Raleigh, would have 55 to 60 percent magnet application seats.

Group two schools in less high-poverty areas such as Brooks, Joyner and Underwood elementary schools would have 40 to 45 percent magnet seats.

SEE THE END OF THE POST FOR THE HANDOUTS FROM THE MEETING

The trend of more Wake County families getting into magnet schools since the end of the old diversity policy is continuing.

School officials say 4,720 out of 8,476 applicants, or 55.7 percent, were accepted into magnet schools for the 2011-12 school year. Last year, 4,450 out of 8,732 applicants were accepted, or 51 percent.

A small part of this year's increase can be attributed to the opening of the new Wake NC State STEM Early College. But that's only 56 kids.

The newly adopted Wake County student reassignment plan could help produce some sharp changes this fall in the percentages of students receiving subsidized lunches at some schools.

This handout was presented by staff at Tuesday's school board meeting following a request by school board member Anne McLaurin. During the votes on the individual items, the Democrats often cited the changes in the F&R rates for them voting no.

For instance, the Walnut Creek feeder pattern moves are projected to increase Southeast Raleigh High's F&R rate from 40.2 percent this year to 50.3 percent this fall.

Next year's Wake County student reassignment plan is a work in progress with everything approved by the old school board under review with new suggestions coming in all the time.

During Tuesday's work session, Laura Evans, senior director of growth and planning, laid out to the board an explanation of the assignments being considered and the direction they're leaning toward. It will help to have your copy of the handout present.

The ensuing discussion showed how the thinking has changed to reflect the new student assignment policy. Multiple times, Evans talked about bringing students home, having them attend their neighborhood schools and moving the least number possible for stability.

We could hear as soon as today whether the Wake County school system will win up to $10.3 million from the federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program.

The U.S. Education Department has until the end of the month to announce the 2010 grant recipients. Wake is among 98 applicants vying for a piece of the $100 million pot.

According to Wake's magnet grant application, the district wants up to $10.3 million in federal dollars over the next three years. Wake would chip in $2.5 million from local funding.

Wake County magnet school supporters are keeping a wary eye on how the program will be impacted by eliminating the long-distance forced busing of thousands of students out of Southeast Raleigh and downtown Raleigh.

As noted in today's article, there's going to be an impact from the school board student assignment committee telling staff to draw up community assignment zones with contiguous boundaries that don't have satellite nodes for diversity.

Questions were raised Tuesday by the community reps from the board minority members about how this change would impact the magnet schools.

SEE UPDATE AT END OF POST

Tempers flared at today's committee of the whole meeting as Wake County school board members argued over a resolution that would be used to apply for a federal magnet schools grant.

With the recent adoption of the community schools resolution, the board needs to adopt a voluntary desegregation plan to apply for the grant. If successful, Wake could get up to $12 million in federal dollars to jumpstart the district's three newest magnet schools - Smith and Brentwood elementary schools and Millbrook High.

Members of the board majority said the resolution complies with the grant application guidelines. But members of the board minority accused the majority of paying lip service to diversity just to get grant money.

UPDATE

THE RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE USUAL 5-4 VOTE AFTER A MOTION TO SEND IT TO COMMITEE WAS REJECTED BY THE SAME 5-4 COALITION.

Wake's three newest magnet schools could be in line for millions in federal dollars.

The school board will vote Tuesday to request a federal magnet grant that would cover Brentwood Elementary, Smith Elementary and Millbrook High. Wake will implement the magnets regardless of the grant, but David Ansbacher, senior director for magnet programs, said the programs would be “more robust” with the federal funding.

Brentwood and Smith will enroll their first magnet students in August. Millbrook will be in a planning year for 2009-10 before taking magnet students.

Beteena Person thinks diversity is a good idea.

But as noted in today's article, she thinks it stinks when it means reassigning her kids out of Smith Elementary School in Garner, which is six miles from her Southeast Raleigh home. They face going to Middle Creek Elementary in Apex, which is 15 miles away and on a different calendar.

"My kids are already very diverse," said Person, who adopted four children after initially taking them in as foster kids.

UPDATE

Staff is recommending dropping the Smith to Middle Creek moves. 

Magnet schools are back on the school board's agenda today.

During the afternoon portion of today's work session, the board will discuss the annual magnet review and decide what next steps to take. Rosa Gill, chairwoman of the school board, anticipates staff will present recommendations for magnetization, and possibly demagnetization, of specific schools.

The magnet program has gotten a lot more attention since the school board decided last year to demagnetize four elementary schools.

UPDATE

The board gave preliminary approval to magnetize Brentwood and Smith elementary schools.