CMS resolution: Get cracking on student assignment in 2016

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board laid out a schedule Thursday for five intensive months of work on student assignment, starting in January.

During that time the board plans to hire a consultant, study what other districts have done, conduct an opinion survey, line up citizen advisers and agree on a general plan.

In May, members will make a “go/no go” decision, either pushing toward a November vote on changes for 2017-18 or deciding they need another year.

“I’d rather have a great plan than just a basic plan that people are going to be complaining about 10 years from now,” board Chair Mary McCray said at a Thursday committee meeting that drew all nine board members.

“I don’t want to put it off,” said committee Chair Tom Tate, “but we’re building in a pressure valve.”

Members agreed on broad goals but acknowledged the challenge will come when priorities collide. For instance, Ericka Ellis-Stewart questioned whether it’s possible to be serious about breaking up concentrations of poverty while avoiding change at schools deemed successful.

“Do we have to break what’s working to fix something else? I don’t think we do,” countered Vice Chair Elyse Dashew.

Here’s a who-what-when overview:

What

▪ Reduce the number of schools with high concentrations of poor and high-need students.

▪ Preserve and expand successful schools and programs.

▪ Provide options for students assigned to schools that don’t meet state performance standards.

▪ Provide equitable access to “varied and viable programmatic options.”

▪ Make efficient and effective use of district resources, including buildings and buses, to reduce crowding and accomplish the other goals.

Who

▪ Superintendent Ann Clark put administrators Akeshia Craven-Howell and Scott McCully, who work with school choice and student placement, in charge of the project.

▪ The board will hire a consultant to design the plan and a local facilitator to lead public engagement.

▪ A staff and citizen task force on school choice, created by former Superintendent Heath Morrison, will be reactivated and possibly expanded.

▪ The board will keep trying to create another task force of local elected officials to support the effort and discuss how assignment questions are entwined with housing policies, economic opportunities and other community issues.

When

▪ December: Staff will compile reports on other districts’ plans, current poverty levels in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the effect of student assignment on academic achievement.

▪ January: CMS hires a facilitator for public engagement.

▪ Jan. 26: Board gets a report from staff on other districts’ plans and policies.

▪ Jan. 29 to Feb. 19: Polling of parents, students and community members.

▪ February: CMS hires a consultant, begins public meetings and seeks advice from the citizen task force.

▪ March 22: Survey results presented.

▪ April 12: Board votes on guiding principles.

▪ April: CMS and consultant start crafting a plan for 2017-18.

▪ May 24: After reviewing input from public meetings, task force and the consultant, the board decides whether it’s ready to have a plan in place for 2017-18. If so ...

▪ Summer: CMS continues work on a plan. Public engagement sessions continue.

▪ Sept. 27: Proposed changes are presented at a board meeting.

▪ October: Board begins the formal approval process, including public hearings. Clark suggested holding hearings in all six districts, as well as at board meetings uptown.

▪ Nov. 9: Vote on final student assignment policy.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 5:07 PM with the headline "CMS resolution: Get cracking on student assignment in 2016."