Don't Underestimate Mecklenburg Parents - Links Directory- Assignment by Choice

Staff · #1 04-16-2005, 12:25 PM

ABC Platform

Unity. Assignment By Choice (ABC) is a united organization representing parents from all of Wake County who support reform of the student assignment process in the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS). The reassignment plan affects thousands of students each year. The WCPSS School Assignment Department employs the tactic of pitting neighbor versus neighbor in their school reassignment plan. They want us to argue that someone else's children should be reassigned rather than our own. That way, they can respond that they are acting in the best interests of all of Wake County, not just one neighborhood. Therefore, we are united in our efforts to reform the school assignment policies of WCPSS in a way that benefits all children. We will NOT promote ideas that benefit some, but not others.

Code of Conduct. We will conduct ourselves responsibly at all times. We will not advocate any ideas that benefit one group over another. When talking with representatives of the media, we will present our ideas in a positive light. We will refrain from using argumentative tones. Racial, ethnic, and/or socioeconomic bias will not be tolerated.

Information. We believe that information is the key to any reform. We believe that all of our positions and ideas should be backed up with factual data or expert opinion. We will refrain from making blanket accusations that have no basis in fact. We will refrain from making anecdotal references. We will promote and publicize all research and expert opinions that support our cause.

Politics. We will support those members of the school board who support our platform. We will have an active presence in all school board elections. We will endorse candidates who are sympathetic towards our cause. We will actively campaign against those members seeking re-election who have demonstrated an unwillingness to support our cause.

School Choice. We believe that all parents should have the ability to choose the school that they believe is in the best interests of their children. We condemn the practice of assigning children to schools against their parents wishes.

Magnet School Lottery. We believe that the magnet school and year-round programs should be available to all students via a lottery that is truly random, objective and administered by an outside concern.

Geographically Close Schools. We believe that parents should be able to choose a school that is geographically close to their home. A geographically close school is not necessarily a neighborhood school. There can exist more than one geographically close school for any one neighborhood. The term "geographically close" is not defined in terms of distance, but is relative to the number and location of schools in any one particular area.

Stability. We believe that stability plays a prominent role in the successful education of all children. We believe that all students develop a familiarity with their schools, teachers, and classmates, that can only help their achievement. We believe that reassignment should only be used in the opening of a new school.

Diversity through Choice. We believe in school diversity, but we do not think that diversity should be mandated. Diversity can be achieved through school choice. We believe that low performing schools, given the proper resources, can improve their performance, making them more attractive to parents, thereby increasing diversity.

Economic Integration. We recognize research and expert opinions that suggest that low student achievement can be improved in majority low-income schools through economic integration. However, we view the further integration of already majority middle-class schools as a veil to redistribute student achievement in order to meet previously stated goals. Furthermore, we reject any attempt to economically integrate schools through forced busing.

At-Risk Schools. We believe that at-risk schools can succeed:

by significantly reducing the student/teacher ratio;

by increasing compensation for teachers in at-risk schools;

through a focused effort to increase parental participation. Busing. We believe that the amount of time that our children spend on the school bus should be kept to an absolute minimum. Extended bus rides force children to lose valuable time that could otherwise be spent in activities with family and friends. Extended bus rides force children to leave home earlier, arrive home later, and can even interfere with the ability to get sufficient sleep. We believe that no child should be forced to spend extended time on buses, when closer alternatives exist.

Costs. We understand that the implementation of any reform to the current school assignment policies will have significant costs associated with it. We recognize the need for additional funding of the public school system, and will support policies to increase funding at the federal, state, and local levels.

Description:	Assignment By Choice is a united, county-wide effort to reform student assignment policies of the Wake County Public School System. This group is for parents of school children in Wake County, North Carolina and all concerned citizens who are in favor of reforming the way that students are assigned to schools. We provide information that supports Parental Choice, Stability in Schools, Geographically Close Schools, and Diversity through Choice. Information is the key to reform. Mission Statement The mission of Assignment By Choice, Inc. is to unite all Wake County parents and concerned citizens in and effort to reform the current school assignment system. Our objectives are: 1. Expand the use of parental choice in school assignment policies. 2. Raise the public awareness of the high incidence and negative consequences of student reassignment. 3. To expose the flaws in the polices guiding current school assignment practices. 4. To purse all available avenues in the reform of school assignment. 5. To use the ABC Political Action Committee to support school board members and candidates who are sympathe
URL:	http://www.wakeup.to/abc
Directory:	Interesting Links
Keywords:	Wake county Assignment by Choice cynthia Matson
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User:	Staff (View All of Staff's Links)
Date Added:	04-16-2005 12:23 PM