● Ensure equitable access to services, staffing, and resources across schools, while considering hometown priorities where relevant. ● Would still permit the District to ensure that siblings may attend the same school
3. Placement Process Using Attendance Areas and Flex Zones The placement process under this model will follow these principles:
● Students living in a primary attendance area will be assigned to that school unless capacity, programmatic considerations, or documented student needs require an alternative placement. Hometown priority considerations will be incorporated where applicable. ● Students living in a flex zone will be considered for placement at either of the schools designated for that zone. Assignments within flex zones may vary from year to year based on:
○ Projected class sizes; ○ Enrollment trends or shifts;
○ Programmatic or service delivery considerations; and ○ Operational needs, including transportation efficiencies.
The District retains authority to distribute students within flex zones in order to maintain balanced, educationally sound, and legally compliant classroom and school environments.
Students enrolled in specialized programs in special education (Connections, LABB, Compass, Pathways) will continue to be enrolled in the school where their program is housed and will be assured transportation through the District. The administration will consider whether siblings of these students may have the option to attend the same school, or whether they will be required to enroll in their geographic residency zone. 4. Transparency and Communication The District will: ● Publish maps and descriptions of all attendance areas and flex zones; ● Provide families with clear explanations of how flex zones operate and what factors influence assignment decisions, including the role of hometown priority; and ● Communicate placements and rationales in a timely and predictable manner each year, with the understanding that final placements may be issued later in Spring due to the complexity of the zone-drawing process. 5. Appeals and Considerations for Student Needs While geography and flex zones will serve as the primary basis for student assignment, the District will maintain an appeals process to address:
● Documented special education, medical, or mental health needs; ● Substantiated safety considerations, including bullying or harassment; and ● Unique family circumstances requiring administrative review.
In the context of the transition to a geography-based system, appeals based solely on a desire to remain with a particular educator or school will be accommodated only in very limited circumstances. Families requesting such exceptions may be required to provide their own transportation if the placement deviates from the student’s assigned geographic school or designated flex zone. The District will evaluate such requests carefully to ensure that classroom balance, enrollment equity, and operational efficiency are preserved.
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