The Wake County school board could decide as soon as August which schools get demagnetized and which ones get magnet programs.
Deputy Superintendent Cathy Moore said they want the decision in August so they can know which schools to include in the next federal magnet schools grant application. It will also let them work on themes for individual schools heading into the November magnet school fair.
Any changes wouldn't go into effect until the 2013-14 school year.
If it's like what happened in 2008, it will produce a firestorm at schools that are demagnetized.
Comments
the Feds
Tue, 05/01/2012 - 21:00 — snordoneyou also have to consider what the federal government is doing. The purpose of magnets was simple - desegregation and prevention of minority isolation. Under Obama there has been a push towards Community in Schools and creating schools that work for low income students. We know in Wake that they do not.
So we have to respond to real questions and federal emphasis on $$$ 1) are these schools meeting the definition of a magnet? For example, is Martin MS really needed as a magnet? and 2) Is there a better way to serve schools in low resource areas? Are we doing more harm than good with our current approach?
I think you mean Community Schools without the "in"
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 13:40 — nmoskalThe term for the broad concept that I think you are referring to is community schools without the in (for those not familiar - meaning along the lines of the school functions as a center of the community). There is an organization called Communities in Schools that is an org that falls under the umbrella of "community schools" but it is only one of many under the umbrella.
you are right!
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 20:07 — snordonewhat is the name of the type of school described in the movie we watched in the ED Task force last year? I thought it has a specific name.
Are you maybe thinking of full service community school?
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 22:22 — nmoskalI'm not sure what name you had in mind, but these might help -
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/communityschools/index.html
The Coalition for Community Schools is a great resource.
http://www.communityschools.org/
http://www.communityschools.org/aboutschools/faqs.aspx#CS
What is the difference between a community school, full service community school, extended service schools etc.?
The term community school offers the broadest definition of the relationship between school and community. Many people use the terms above interchangeably; others use them differently. The Coalition is not particularly concerned with the nuanced differences between these terms. Rather, we encourage people to expand on their own vision of school and community relationships, adding components and strategies that help to achieve better outcomes for students, families and communities. Overtime, we believe that approach will lead people toward the vision of a community schools that we have set forth.
funny you should mention that
Tue, 05/01/2012 - 21:18 — AngelaWOnce considered a solution to desegregate racially divided districts, magnet schools today have been forced to evolve, given legal barriers that bar using race to determine school enrollment and increasing pressure to provide more public school choices.
In a post-desegregation era, many large districts like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Baltimore County, have maintained high numbers of magnet schools, even amid the economic downturn, and others are using magnets as a strategy to meet new goals around improving school quality.
The changing definitions and demands have left the purpose and future of magnet schools in flux, according to magnet school advocates and researchers, particularly as the charter school movement continues to gather steam on national and state levels.
“This is a pivotal time for school districts and education leaders to clearly define the role of magnet schools,” said Claire Smrekar, an associate professor of education at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tenn., who has researched magnet schools for decades. “The future of magnet schools will depend upon which policy values and priorities school leaders embrace and whether the federal role will emphasize racial diversity as an educational goal or place the highest value instead on accountability and innovation exclusively, at the expense of diversity.”
Several decades ago, magnet schools became a popular strategy for many districts that often touted the catchy themes of the schools to attract families from diverse backgrounds in hopes of willingly desegregating their schools. These schools were also seen as a way to keep white, middle-class families from leaving the public school system, Ms. Smrekar said.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/05/01/30magnets_ep.h31.html?tkn=NXOF0ZDp01HvixyRZpMzQH%2B2IVv6JLubW44j&cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS1
what I would like from magnet parents
Tue, 05/01/2012 - 22:11 — snordoneis for them to not see this as a threat to their way of life but a legitimate conversation we need to have. Our goal is to educate all children, or at least it should be. If our approach is not working then we need to revisit how to structure our schools.
I know that people freaked out when John Tedesco discussed promise zones and Community in Schools but the approach works. This is going to ignite a firestorm, but would the community surrounding Enloe be better served with a health clinic inside the school and monthly free dental clinics rather than offering Mandarin Chinese and Japanese as electives? Would these families be better served with a computer lab that they can access and night courses for people to get their GED rather than the presence of white and asian kids in the hallway? Diversity is a sham if it is not at the educational level, and we know there is no diversity in the classroom at our elite magnets.
I am a graduate of Enloe, and I don't think magnets serve anyone except for the high income families that get enrichment as part of their public education. That is my opinion as a former magnet student. I benefited, but likely to the detriment of those I went to school with from the neighborhood (and they did take kids from the neighborhood at that time).
Interesting isn't it
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 22:44 — nmoskalYes, JT discusses promise zones and community schools and gets skewered. Meanwhile the Dept of Ed under Duncan is handing out grants for them and touting how great the concepts are, while he makes speeches against those here who support the concepts. I hate politics.
Would be nice to see Wake
Tue, 05/01/2012 - 22:11 — mnordbergWould be nice to see Wake really describe their plans based on the "study' with some real data and reasons. Right now wake magnets are about creating diversity and what is the real vision of magnets and other special programs moving forward so there is a comprehensive plan that integrates magnets into the new assignment plan in a real way. Having one magnet process and one assignment/proximity process doesn't make sense anymore.
ugh, no policy
Tue, 05/01/2012 - 18:35 — mnordbergHere we go again. Making tactical decisions on specific schools to magnetized or demagnetize before deciding a policy and direction of magnets in new assignment plan. What are they used to push now, where should they be, why are magnet like programs like STEM and Spanish immersion not magnet programs, and how can they continue to pay for them. Making individual decisions prior to a guiding principle and policy is once again short sighted and irresponsible.
agree
Tue, 05/01/2012 - 20:36 — EBDarcyWhat is Tata's game? I was at a meeting in February where Tata said Moore was launching a study of the magnets. He also said he would be recruiting some parents to participate. Are we supposed to belive that in two months all this has been completed on top of implementing the assignment plan?
Please remember that
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 16:17 — ScoreOnewhen Tata uses words like, "study" "survey" "reviewing" etc, this are not scientific research terms or processes. They are parts of the "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain strategy."
Have heart, use your brain, show courage...the little wizard is powerless.
Individual decisions are
Tue, 05/01/2012 - 18:51 — KeungHui (author)Individual decisions are supposed to come in the context of reviewing the guiding principles of the magnet program.
Would be nice to see Wake's
Tue, 05/01/2012 - 22:08 — mnordbergWould be nice to see Wake's output of their study and community feedback on the new guiding principles in sufficient time before we have yet another "We will figure out the guiding principles after we have to make a decision on tactical decisions because we are out of time". Not sure why there isn't more push to get wake to come up with these things sooner than later.