Update and Next Steps from Enrollment and Transfer Work Session

On Feb. 6, the School Board held its second work session to provide staff additional guidance on outstanding questions related to proposed policy revisions for the Enrollment and Transfers to Schools and Programs Policy (SB 25-2.2).

The Board discussed the following policy issues:

• Provide a blend of neighborhood and option schools that includes equitable access in admissions
• Continue the current practice to offer sibling preference for admission to elementary option schools, but not at the secondary level
• Provide transportation for students attending neighborhood and option schools outside of the school’s walk zone
• Develop data to consider possible neighborhood attendance zone allocations for option schools

Additionally, the Board discussed current mechanisms APS uses to ensure equitable access including Pre-K seats at option schools; neighborhood allotment of seats for H-B Woodlawn; language balance in immersion schools; and boundaries and transfers. The School Board requested additional data from staff to inform future discussions on issues regarding proposed policy revisions.

A first draft of the revised Policy and new Policy Implementation Procedures (PIP) that have been developed by staff will be available online beginning Wed, Feb. 8. Links to the draft Policy and PIP and a feedback form will be distributed by APS School Talk and will be posted at aps2016.apsva.us/engage.  The feedback will help to gather community responses for revisions to both documents.

In addition, two “Getting Started” community meetings will be held on Feb. 22 at Washington-Lee High School and March 2 at Wakefield High School to discuss the proposals.

The Feb. 6 Work Session is available to watch online. The School Board will hold its next work session on this topic in late February. For more information, or to offer feedback, visit https://aps2016.apsva.us/transfer-policy-revisions/