PROCEDURES MANUAL FOR CHOICE SCHOOLS and PROGRAMS1
This Manual is referenced in School Board Policy 5.016
1. History and Purpose
a.
The School District of Palm Beach County (SDPBC) is committed to providing
quality educational opportunities for all students. The School Board implemented
magnet schools and Choice/Career Education programs as a way to ensure that
quality educational opportunities were available to all students in diverse settings.
Choice/Career Education programs are specialized educational programs that
enable students to take advantage of additional resources and innovative
teaching techniques that focus on the student’s individual talents or interests.
b.
Choice schools and programs maintain the mission of:
i. improving academic achievement for all Choice students.
ii. maintain the goals of the original Program Proposal for the program.
iii. promoting and maintaining the educational benefits of a diverse student
body.
iv. engaging students and providing them with a pathway to post-secondary
educational opportunities and career options.
Diversity and/or diverse, for the purpose of this manual, are defined as students’ first language,
Exceptional Student Education (ESE) students with disabilities, the socioeconomic status of the
students (based on free and reduced-price lunch data), gender, and race/ethnicity consistent
with the state of Florida classification for reporting.
2. Types of Choice Programs -- At the pre-K, elementary, middle, and high school levels,
the District may implement total-school (full Choice) programs or Choice program(s)
within a school. In a full Choice school, all students enrolled in the school participate in
the Choice program while Choice program(s) within a school have both students
enrolled in the Choice program(s) as well as those who do not participate in the Choice
program(s). The SDPBC full Choice schools are:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Morikami Park ES
Northboro ES
Poinciana ES
S.D. Spady ES
Bak Middle School of the Arts
f.
g.
h.
i.
Don Estridge High Tech MS
A.W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts
Suncoast HS
Village Academy
3. Recruitment -- To ensure that all students have equitable educational opportunities and to
promote diverse Choice school enrollment, it is the goal of the District to provide all
students with the opportunity to access Choice schools and programs.
a. The Superintendent and/or Chief Academic Officer ensure that recruitment
strategies are developed by each Choice school and are designed to achieve a
diverse applicant pool.
b. The District seeks to provide information and assistance to all parents/legal
guardians as they make choices for their children. The District’s Department of
Choice and Career Options is responsible for educating parents/legal guardians
regarding the many options available to students. The Department of Choice and
Career Options will provide parents/legal guardians with information, assistance,
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and other resources regarding Choice schools and programs. Parents/legal
guardians may visit the Department in the Fulton-Holland Educational Services
Center or online at: www.palmbeachschools.org/choiceprograms. The
Department of Choice and Career Options is also responsible for coordinating
outreach programs to assist Choice schools in the recruitment of diverse
applicants. The Department may use Choice school fairs, newsletters,
newspaper and radio advertisements, civic or local government organizations,
the Internet, The Education Network (T.E.N.), promotional materials, and
publicity through other local government agencies as part of a comprehensive
recruitment plan.
4. Application Process -- To be considered for a Choice program, the parents or legal
guardians of applicants must complete the application online at www.mypbchoiceapp.com.
Hard copy applications can be completed in the Choice and Career Options Department
office or downloaded from www.palmbeachschools.org/choiceprograms, completed, and
submitted to the Department of Choice and Career Options.
a. Only applications for the 2017-2018 school year will be processed.
b. Online applications are highly encouraged. Online applications save time and
money and parents/legal guardians receive immediate confirmation via email.
Please note the following deadlines:
c. December 2, 2016: Application deadline if either of the two choices is one
of the following Arts schools:
i. Bak Middle School of the Arts (all programs)
ii. The Conservatory School @North Palm Beach (Symphony Orchestra –
grades 6 -8)
iii. Boynton Beach High School Arts programs (Dance, Digital Media, MusicBand, Music-Keyboard/Piano, Music-Vocal, Theatre, and Visual Arts)
iv. A.W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts (all programs).
d. January 27, 2017: Deadline for all Choice programs other than the
Arts programs listed above
e. If you are selecting an Art school option listed above along with another choice
selection, the deadline of December 2, 2016 still applies and NO CHANGES TO
THE APPLICATION FOR EITHER CHOICE CAN BE MADE AFTER THIS
DATE.
f.
Hand-delivered applications to the Choice and Career Options (District) office will
not be accepted after 4:00 p.m. on December 2, 2016 for the four Arts schools
listed above and after 4:00 p.m. on January 27, 2017 for all other applications.
g. Mailed applications must be postmarked by December 2, 2016 for the four Arts
schools listed above. All other applications must be postmarked by January 27,
2017.
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Application Completion
h. Application Availability:
i. The Choice Programs Application (PBSD 1537) will be available on or
around November 1st of each year for placement the following school
year. Applications in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Creole will be
available for download at the Choice and Career Options website:
www.palmbeachschools.org/choiceprograms.
ii. Applications are completed online at www.mypbchoiceapp.com.
iii. Applications will also be available at the Department of Choice and
Career Options in the Fulton Holland Educational Services Center
(District Office).
i.
Residency: The student applicant and the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of the
student applicant must be full time residents of Palm Beach County in order to
complete an application or schedule an audition for a Choice program in the
SDPBC. Residency is verified for each applicant.
i. Parents/legal guardians who plan to move to Palm Beach County after
application deadlines must submit a late application when residence is
established and can be verified.
j.
Choice Selection: One or two programs may be selected. Applicants must rank
their program selections in order as first (1st) and second (2nd) choices on the
application if the student has more than one (1) Choice program selection.
Carefully evaluate choices when ranking programs as first (1st) or second
(2nd) choices as first and second choices do not have equal chances of
being selected. Programs may have limited numbers of seats and not have any
second choice students assigned in the lottery.
k. Application Changes
i. Only one (1) application per student may be submitted and only one (1)
program selection change will be allowed once the application is
submitted online. No changes will be accepted for hard copy
submissions.
ii. The one change must occur on or before December 2, 2016 for
applications with one of the following schools/programs as one, or both,
of the choices:
1. Bak Middle School of the Arts (all programs)
2. The Conservatory School @North Palm Beach (Symphony
Orchestra – grades 6-8)
3. Boynton Beach High School (Arts programs)
4. A.W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts (all programs)
iii. The one program selection change must occur on or before January 27,
2017 for all other schools.
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l.
Address Verification: The address listed on the application must match the
address listed in the District's student database system (TERMS). TERMS is the
student information system that includes address, demographic, and academic
data for each student in the District. Addresses can only be changed with at least
two forms of documentation at the student’s current school. Pursuant to Florida
Statute, Section 92.525 and under penalties of perjury, parents/legal guardians
will sign the application verifying that the information stated in the application is
true and correct. Applications will not be processed if the address on the
application and the address in TERMS do not match by the application deadline
date.
m. Parents must complete a separate application for each child.
n. If the applicant has a sibling already attending the Choice school to which he/she
is applying and the sibling will be attending the following school year, the sibling
must be listed on the first page of the application.
o. Applications submitted by students will be marked as ineligible. The District
reserves the right to deny future applications.
p. The Choice Programs application is available for submission online at the
following website: www.mypbchoiceapp.com. When submitting this completed
web-based form, the parent/legal guardian is verifying, under penalties of perjury,
that his/her electronically submitted application is authentic, the information
provided is true and correct, and that he/she is the parent/legal guardian
authorized to submit the application.
q. Parents will receive notifications via email from [email protected].
Adding this address as a contact may prevent notifications from being rejected.
5. DUPLICATE PROGRAMS:
a. If the student is applying first choice for a Choice/Career Education program that
is also offered at his/her zoned school, the zoned school program must be listed
on the application as the first choice or the application will not be processed.
b. The only exception is that all students may apply for first choice to the
following full choice schools or programs:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.
xi.
A. W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts
Suncoast HS
Bak Middle School of the Arts
Don Estridge High Tech MS
Morikami Park ES
Northboro ES
Poinciana ES
SD Spady ES
Village Academy
Boynton Beach High School Arts programs
The Conservatory School Symphony Orchestra program (Grades 6-8)
c. Another school with the same program may be entered as the second choice on
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the application.
6. Academic or Related Eligibility Criteria -- In order for an applicant to participate in the
computerized lottery, the applicant must meet the eligibility requirements for the program
as described in the 2017 - 2018 Choice Programs booklet.
a. Pre-K and Elementary Level – Pre-K programs and elementary schools do not
have academic or related criteria for Choice program eligibility.
b. Secondary Level -- At the secondary level, the Superintendent and Chief
Academic Officer allow the use of academic criteria, including grade point
average, course prerequisites, and/or audition criteria for determining whether
students are eligible for a Choice program. Eligibility must be determined for all
students who apply to programs that have academic or audition criteria. Once an
application is completed, it is the parent’s/legal guardian’s responsibility to make
sure that the Choice school receives the student’s transcript, portfolio or
academic record, including all information related to Virtual School classes, if
appropriate.
i. GPA Calculations
1. GPA calculation for entering 9th grade students is calculated on
the average of all classes for the 4th quarter of grade 7 and the 1st
and 2nd quarters of grade 8.
2. GPA calculation for entering 10th-12th grade students is based on
the GPA listed at the time of eligibility determination from student
TERMS (SDPBC student information system).
c. Spanish Dual Language
i. Due to the rigor of the program, after Grade 1, Spanish Dual Language
applicants will be subject to passing a fluency exam to determine
eligibility.
ii. Middle school Spanish Dual Language programs will only admit students
who have completed an elementary school Spanish Dual Language
program or they will be subject to passing a fluency exam to determine
eligibility.
d. Arts Programs: All students applying to the following arts schools or programs
must meet the eligibility criteria set by each school through their audition process,
in order to be considered for the lottery selection process:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Bak Middle School of the Arts
A.W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts
Boynton Beach High School Arts programs
The Conservatory School @North Palm Beach (Symphony OrchestraGrades 6-8)
e. Secondary Choice schools or programs that use academic and/or audition
related eligibility criteria must use an eligibility committee to determine which
applicants are eligible for participation in the computerized random selection
lottery process. Eligibility criteria are listed in the Choice and Career Options
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Information guide in the Choice Programs booklet.
f.
Grades 11 and 12 programs are only open to students applying from like
programs and who meet the eligibility criteria. The District reserves the right to
verify the student’s program status at previous school.
g. Parents of home education, virtual school, and private school students must
submit transcripts/portfolio to the applicant school(s) for determination of
eligibility.
h. If a student is determined ineligible for his/her first choice selection, the second
choice program selection on the application does not move to the first choice
preference.
i.
The greatest number of available seats at each school is for students entering
grades kindergarten, six, or nine. The Choice booklet provides the range of
available seats from the previous school year. These numbers are not a
guarantee of the number of available seats for the 2017 – 2018 Choice lottery as
they are impacted by changing real estate markets and/or boundary changes.
j.
Each year, the Superintendent, Chief Academic Officer or designee shall review
proposed eligibility criteria and require that they be nondiscriminatory and provide
equal access. The Superintendent or designee must approve any additions or
changes to the eligibility requirements.
7. Eligibility determined through Auditions:
a. ESE, ELL and 504 students must provide their IEP, ELL, or their 504
Accommodation Plan at the time of the audition sign-up or prior to the audition in
order to request allowable audition accommodations. Failure to accept
accommodations offered at the time of audition when accommodations are
needed is NOT grounds for an appeal.
i. Private school and home education students without a District IEP or
District 504 Accommodation Plan may also request audition
accommodations if the parent provides appropriate documentation of the
student’s disability to the school at the time of the audition sign-up or prior
to the audition.
b. If a student becomes ill and is unable to audition on the scheduled audition date,
he/she may be considered for a new audition date and time upon receipt of a
medical doctor’s written verification of illness. This verification must be submitted
to the appropriate Arts school within three (3) school days of the date of the
student’s scheduled audition. The student’s audition will then be rescheduled at a
time set up by the school only if there are more audition dates available.
c. Higher audition eligibility scores are required for ascending grade levels at the
four Arts schools listed previously in this document that require auditions.
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8. Reciprocity -- Students who move into the District after the initial lottery may be
considered for assignment to a program for the following school year if they are eligible,
have evidence of transferring from a like-themed program (i.e. Arts, IB, Technology) that
they have attended for at least one full year, and, if there are available seats in the
program/school for the student. If the student is requesting a Performing Arts program at
one of the four schools with auditions required for eligibility, placement will only be
considered if an audition is completed and passed. However, there is no guarantee of
time, place, or availability of auditions.
9. Selection Process -- All students who submit an application by the deadline date and
meet any eligibility criteria will qualify for participation in the initial computerized random
selection lottery according to the Choice preference selections made on the Choice
Programs application. The Choice and Career Options Director shall implement the
procedures as set forth herein for the annual lottery selection process that will take into
consideration the diversity of the SDPBC.
a. Seats available for each program will be determined by the Department of
Planning. Consideration will be given to Florida Inventory of School House
(FISH) capacity, concurrency, and the Class Size Reduction Amendment. For
programs housed in schools with a boundary area, seats will be allotted for
students who reside within the school’s Study Area Codes (SAC areas) and for
students who reside outside the school’s SAC areas (Out of Boundary - OOB).
b. If there are fewer applicants than available seats, the SDPBC shall admit all
eligible applicants to the Choice school or program.
c. When there are more eligible on-time applicants than available seats for
programs, a computerized lottery selection process will be used to ensure equity
in the assignment of eligible students to programs. Preference in the lottery will
be given as follows:
i. Principal’s 20% list (optional): Up to 20% of the available seats may be
selected by the principal for students who selected that particular program
as their first (1st) choice preference for each Choice school program prior
to the lottery.
1. The number of available principal’s 20% seats in each school
Choice program will be determined by taking the total number of
out of boundary vacancies for each program and multiplying that
number by 0.20.
2. The number of 20% seats for a program cannot be transferred to
another program.
3. The principals must submit their criteria for selection of the
students in the 20% list to the Director of Choice and Career
Options prior to the lottery.
ii. Employee (parent works at the school site to which the child is applying):
First (1st) choice applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for the
specified program may be admitted if they have a parent who is a full-time
employee at the Choice school to which they apply and if seats are
available.
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iii. Military: First (1st) choice applicants who meet the eligibility requirements
for the specified Choice program may be admitted if they have a parent
who is active military or full time Reserves. Parents must complete and
submit Active Military Form PBSD 2473. Active duty orders and other
documentation are also required.
iv. Priority SACs: Of the remaining seats, up to 50% for elementary
students and 25% for secondary students may be filled by first (1st)
choice applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for the specified
program and who belong to a district-approved priority group or
population, which includes neighborhood designated SAC areas for six
schools as indicated in Appendix A.
v. Sibling: Of the remaining seats, 50% for elementary and 25% for
secondary seats may be filled with first (1st) choice sibling applicants who
meet the eligibility requirements for the specified program .
1. Siblings are defined as a brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister,
stepbrother or stepsister living in the same household as the
applicant.
2. The “sibling attending” preference is only given if the sibling is a
Choice or in-house program student who is currently attending the
same first choice school and will continue to attend the Choice
school the next school year.
vi. Strand: Of the remaining seats, 25% of the remaining seats may be filled
with eligible first (1st) choice applicants who have participated in and
completed a program in the same preparatory theme at the lower grade
levels.
1. Completed is defined as participating in at least grades 7 and 8 in
the middle school program or at least grades 4 and 5 in the
elementary school program.
2. The program need not be a Choice or Magnet program, but
student participation must be indicated on the Student TERMS
A26 panel for current School District of Palm Beach County
students.
Strand preference for IB MYP students: Since the MYP is a five year
program from Grades 6-10, first choice applicants for the high school
continuation of the IB MYP who have satisfactorily completed Grades 7
and 8 (MYP Levels 2 and 3) and who meet the IB eligibility requirements
will be assigned to the partner high school IB MYP:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Carver MS → Atlantic HS
John F. Kennedy MS → Suncoast HS
Conniston MS → Forest Hill HS
Pahokee MS → Pahokee HS
vii. General Seating: Of the remaining seats, selections will be made from
the pool of students not yet assigned and/or those without a preference
listed above until all seating vacancies have been filled.
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d. The preferences used for first choice applicants do not apply to second
choice applicants. Once a student has been selected for one of his/her
indicated choices, he/she is immediately removed from the lottery for all other
programs indicated on his/her Choice Programs application.
10.
Post Lottery
a. Students are obligated to accept the program that they have indicated as their
first (1st) choice, if they are selected, or they must attend their zoned school.
b. If a student declines his/her second (2nd) choice assignment, he/she may remain
in the wait pool for his/her first (1st) choice. To be considered, eligibility criteria
must be met for the first (1st) choice program.
c. All students who are selected and accept placement in a Choice school program
must agree to participate on a full time basis.
d. If a student is not selected to attend a Choice school program in the lottery
process, a new application must be submitted for the following year.
e. All students wishing to decline their seat after accepting an offered lottery
assignment must notify the Department of Choice and Career Options, in
writing, of their intent to decline.
11. In-House Selections -- Only students zoned for a school may apply to its in-house
programs. Student selections for in-house program lotteries are conducted by each school
and reported to the Department of Choice and Career Options. All questions regarding inhouse lottery eligibility should be directed to the school’s Choice/Academy Coordinator.
12. Appeals Process -- If parents/legal guardians believe that their child was not allowed an
equitable opportunity for a Choice school or program during the audition or eligibility
process because of a technical problem or inequity, the parent/legal guardian may request
an appeal after notification of lottery results.
a. Appeals are only accepted for the following reasons:
i. A technical problem during the audition process (any relevant
malfunction, such as defective equipment or a power failure in the
building).
ii. A technical problem during the eligibility process (such as a
mathematical error).
iii. An inequity (school’s failure to provide appropriate accommodations
according to documented disability or limited English proficiency during
the student’s audition or eligibility processes).
b. It is the parent’s/legal guardian’s responsibility to provide a student’s IEP, ELL, or
504 Accommodation Plan at the time of the audition sign-up or prior to the
audition in order to request allowable audition accommodations. Failure to
accept accommodations offered at the time of audition when
accommodations are needed is not grounds for an appeal.
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c. Appeals Process
i. The appeals process is governed by Policy 5.016 and is described in the
District’s Procedures Manual for Choice Programs
(www.palmbeachschools.org/choiceprograms).
ii. An application for an appeal of Choice program eligibility must be
submitted to the Director of Choice and Career Options within five school
days from the date of the lottery notification letter, indicating the child’s
program assignment, wait pool status, or program ineligibility.
iii. The Choice Appeals Application (PBSD 2418) can be downloaded at
www.palmbeachschools.org/Forms/Documents/2418.pdf.
iv. After the written Request for Appeal is received from the parent/legal
guardian, the Choice Appeals Review Committee will investigate the
alleged inequity or technical problem to determine its merit. The Choice
Appeals Review Committee is established annually under the direction of
the Director of Choice and Career Options and consists of a diverse
group of professional educators and administrators with knowledge of
Choice and Career Options programs and District policies.
v. At the completion of the Appeals Committee review of appeals request,
one of the following actions will occur within five (5) school days:
1. The Department of Choice and Career Options Director sends a
letter to the parent/legal guardian approving the appeal and
notifies the effected school of the need for a second eligibility
review.
2. The Department of Choice and Career Options Director will send
a letter to the parent/legal guardian denying the appeal.
13. Transportation
a. Choice Transportation Zones designate areas where Choice student busing is
provided. See the district transportation website:
www.palmbeachschools.org/transportation).
b. Bus stops to Choice schools may be limited and located significantly farther from
the student’s home than transportation to the student’s home school.
c. Additional bus stops will not be created for students who reside within the Choice
Transportation zone regardless of the student’s proximity to the nearest stop.
i. Additional stops will not be created for students who reside outside of the
Choice Transportation Zone and who are traveling inside of the zone to
access transportation. Students must travel to an established stop to
receive transportation.
d. Students who live outside of the Choice Transportation Zone may attend the
Choice school if they provide their own transportation to and from:
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i. School
ii. Nearest school bus pick-up location within the transportation zone
14. Student Continuation and Exit Procedures
a. Once a student is admitted to a Choice school program, the PBCSD expects and
shall allow the student to remain in that Choice school program until the student
reaches the highest grade level offered by that school. Students do not have to
reapply for admission into the same program each year.
b. All Choice programs require, as a condition for admission, that parents/legal
guardians sign a contract agreeing to the student requirements of the Choice school.
This may include required participation in school/program activities, acceptable
attendance and conduct, maintaining a designated grade point average, or abiding
by a specified dress code where such requirements are part of the Choice theme.
c. A student who fails to meet the standards established in the contract will be placed
on probation. If concerns continue or a Level 3 or 4 offense occurs, a diverse
committee of school and District representatives will be established to review,
discuss and recommend the appropriate action, as per the school program
requirements.
d. If a student exits a Choice school program, voluntarily or involuntarily, he/she must
return to his/her zoned school, regardless of their grade level. The student forfeits
the seat and may not apply in any future lottery cycle to the same Choice school
program. Students who move to a new location are eligible to apply to the same
program if it is located at their zoned school or a school with the program in their
new Choice Transportation Zone.
e. Schools may only exit students at the end of a semester unless a serious offense
warrants such removal (Discipline Level 3 or 4 or recommendation of the school
committee). The parent or guardian has the right to withdraw the student at any time
but removal at the end of the semester or year is highly recommended. If removed
for not following contract requirements, the student is no longer eligible to apply for
the program at the school in any future application cycle.
f.
Students who are exited from a Choice program are not eligible to remain at the
Choice school through reassignment.
g. If a student is attending classes via Hospital Homebound Services, the student must
complete the program required coursework by the end of the school year. Failure to
do so may make the student subject to possible program exit.
h. Student Relocation
i. If an in-boundary student who has been enrolled in a Choice program
or academy for at least one full year moves out of boundary and
wants to remain in the program/academy as a Choice out of
boundary (OOB) student, the student must follow all terms of the
Choice contract for academics and discipline and have the approval
of the current principal.
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ii. The student must complete a Choice application if one has not
already been submitted.
iii. Residency must be verified prior to relocation.
iv. Student transportation is subject to availability. Additional bus stops
will not be created.
15. Creating, Replicating, or Moving a Choice School or Program
a. If the need exists for a new Choice program, there is a Program Proposal
process. Once the potential sites and themes are identified through consultation
with the Director of Choice and Career Options, Chief Academic Officer, and
Area Superintendent, a completed Program Proposal form (PBSD 2079)
available at http://www.palmbeachschools.org/forms/index.asp must be
submitted. The Choice and Career Options Director and Department shall
provide assistance, as needed, in the development of the proposals. These
proposals shall include:
i. The development of the Choice theme/program/design recommended by
the Chief Academic Officer, Area Superintendent, and Choice and Career
Options Director;
ii. Strategies for attracting a diverse population;
iii. Strategies for improving academic achievement;
iv. Strategies for aligning the Choice theme with the SDPBC’s course of
study and Career Education pathway requirements;
v. How students in SDPBC shall have access to the application and
transportation process for the Choice school or program;
vi. What the budget requirements are for the Choice school or program,
including an explanation of why each budget item is reasonable and
necessary for the Choice theme or program;
vii. The impact on Facilities and any future recommendations;
viii. The impact on Transportation
ix. How the Choice school or program will be monitored and evaluated in
addition to completed Choice program evaluation results.
b. The Chief Academic Officer and Superintendent will then review the committee’s
recommendation for approval of the program.
c. In making this determination, the Superintendent shall utilize the mission and
goals for Choice schools and programs provided in Section (1) (b) above. In
addition, the Superintendent shall use a number of other considerations,
including:
i. The geographic location of a potential site in order to ensure equitable
access to Choice programs, including reasonable transportation time, for
all students;
ii. Any demographic changes in an attendance zone, such as declining
enrollment or decreasing diversity;
iii. The suitability and condition of the potential site;
iv. The School Board’s priorities;
v. The impact that implementing a Choice school or program at a potential
site might have on displacing students currently assigned to the school
and on the enrollment and diversity at the surrounding schools;
vi. The potential for attracting a diverse enrollment to a proposed site;
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vii. The impact on class size reduction, concurrency and the capacity and
utilization of a potential site;
viii. The achievement data that demonstrates student learning gains;
ix. The budgetary impact for creating a new choice school or program, or of
replicating a theme at a new site;
x. Consideration should include the available funds for existing Choice
schools and programs and any other needs of the PBCSD.
16. Determining Continuation of Existing Choice Schools or Programs - If a Choice
school or program is not meeting or making satisfactory progress toward the mission and
goals specified in paragraph (1) (b) above, the Choice and Career Options Director shall
initiate the activities of a technical assistance planning team. A technical assistance plan
will be prepared for implementation the following year in the Choice school or program.
a. If a Choice school or program has not made satisfactory progress after at least
three years of implementation and one full year of technical assistance, the
Choice and Career Options Director shall notify the principal by the end of the
technical assistance year regarding discontinuation or modification of the Choice
school or program.
b. A Choice school or program may be recommended for closure or modification by
the Area Superintendent, Chief Academic Officer or the Superintendent/designee
for lack of student participation, lack of funding, loss of teacher allocation, or
other good cause.
c. A Program Conversion/Closure/Modification form (PBSD 2168) must be
completed by the school site and submitted for discussion at a Program Proposal
Review Committee meeting. The Committee’s recommendation will be sent to
the Superintendent for approval to close or modify a program.
d. If a Choice school or program is discontinued, the Area Superintendent and the
principal shall develop a plan to be presented to the Superintendent, Chief
Academic Officer or designee to ensure an orderly transition of the Choice school
or program to a non-choice school program.
17. Diversity and District-Wide Maintenance of School Populations
a. If necessary, the eligible ELL/LY students may be prioritized for placement if
there are a disparate number of LY students in each Choice school or program.
b. If necessary, the eligible ESE students with disabilities may be prioritized for
placement if there are a disparate number of ESE students with disabilities in
each Choice school or program.
c. Foster students may be offered preferred placement at the discretion of the
Director of the Department of Choice and Career Options. A foster student is
defined as a student who is state recognized as a child placed under the care of
a child protection agency according to legal jurisdiction. Emancipated students,
students temporarily residing with friends or relatives, and/or students whose
guardianship has been temporarily or permanently transferred to friends or
relatives are not considered foster students.
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18. Budgeting and Funding Implications -- No later than February 1st of each school year,
the Magnet schools budgets will be reviewed and revised for the upcoming year. The
review will be led by the Choice and Career Options Director and a group of representative
principals as well as representatives of the Budget Department as needed.
19. Monitoring and Evaluation -- The Superintendent may submit to the School Board a
report regarding the implementation of Choice schools and programs. This report may
include:
a. data on the pool of eligible students for each Choice school or program;
b. the diversity of the recruitment pool (in evaluating whether a Choice school or
program meets or will meet the goal of diversity, the SDPBC broadly considers
various types of diversity);
c. marketing plans that list recruitment techniques that have increased or
decreased the diversity of the pool of eligible students;
d. data on the students who were accepted into each Choice school or program,
including the diversity of the students who were accepted into each Choice
school or program;
e. data on the eligibility committees that are used to determine student eligibility for
Choice schools or programs, including the diversity of these committees;
f. identification of any perceived barriers to students being eligible for and admitted
into Choice schools or programs and recommendations for eliminating any
barriers;
g. data on the unique nature of the program or specialized curricular approach, and
its impact on attracting a diverse population;
h. data on how students are performing in each Choice school or program,
including how students from diverse populations are performing;
i. data on the withdrawal of students from each Choice school or program; and
j. any recommendation for improving Choice schools and programs, particularly as
to the participation of students in Choice schools or programs, and the
development of outstanding Choice schools or programs.
20. Annual Review -- The Department of Choice and Career Options shall review these
procedures annually and submit any recommendations for revision to the Chief Academic
Officer and Superintendent, who may recommend that the procedures be amended
accordingly.
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APPENDIX A
Choice Programs Priority SAC Areas 2017 - 2018
School
Program
Morikami Park
Elementary
International
Baccalaureate Primary
Years
Choice Priority SAC
Areas
296B, 306A, 306B
Poinciana Elementary
Math, Science and
Technology
257, 406A, 406B
Northboro Elementary
Montessori
099B, 105A, 105B,
115A, 115B, 389A,
389B
S.D. Spady Elementary
Montessori
288, 290*, 294
BAK Middle School of
the Arts
Visual, Performing,
Communications Arts
102, 103, 097C
Suncoast High
Innovative Interactive
Technology
081A, 081B, 081C,
081D, 081E, 081F,
081G, 081H, 081J,
082, 083, 084, 093C,
093D, 093E, 094A,
094B, 094C, 094D,
094E,
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Comment
Students must submit
an application by the
deadline
*Former SAC 290B
N – NW 4th Street (only)
E – Swinton Avenue (only)
S – NW 2nd Street (only)
W – NW 4th Avenue (only)
Must submit an
application by the
deadline and pass the
audition
Must submit an
application by the
deadline