Yes, it’s that time of year again. Time for the Champaign Unit 4 Schools kindergarten lottery process to begin.
We’ve put up the schedule for tours, forums and registration dates for this year’s go-around, and it is frustrating to see that the district has decided to follow the same tired formula as years past. Perhaps my biggest pet peeve is that there is only one evening open house. There’s no way for parents to get to 11 schools in one night, and many parents simply can’t get to schools during school hours for the other tour opportunities.
This year I can write as the parent who has been there, done that. And having been there, done that has made me even that much more determined to do whatever I can to make this process easier for parents going through it.
It can be done, I’m quite sure of it. There is always room for improvement, and in this case, there is VAST room for improvement. And the district is well aware of it; just this week I was contacted by a Houston-based advertising firm that has been hired by Unit 4 to create a presentation about the Controllled Choice Program.
They will be creating a video that interviews real parents who have been through the process, so prospective parents can hear from those who have been there. (They even want to interview me. I asked them if they were sure!)
The email also said, “If Controlled Choice is more easily understood, it’s believed more parents will take advantage of it.”
Having the process be more easily understood is a step in the right direction. But the gulf of apprehension felt by parents definitely goes beyond understanding.
It’s about empowerment.
So many parents feel defeated by the process before it ever begins. If I had a dime for how many people have told me “we’ll never get into our neighborhood school” or “we’ll never get the school we want,” I’d be … drinking a free Starbucks latte, or 12, right now.
Parents need to feel that they have all the information possible to make an educated decision — not just to choose the school that they like the best, but armed with information so that they can pick the school for their child that is also their best opportunity for assignment.
Something like 85 percent of families got their first “choice” last year. But that 85 percent doesn’t include the parents who decide not even to go through the lottery, because they are so put off by the system that they move out of the district, elect to send their kids to private schools or decide to homeschool.
It also doesn’t include many families who enter the district after the lottery as well as families who decide, for whatever reason, not to participate but do enroll their children in the fall. I’m guessing that overall, at least 20 percent of incoming kindergartner families did not get their first choice of schools.
With about 736 seats (according to a figure from last year), that’s a lot of families.
So without further ado, my predictions for kindergarten lottery season 2012:
1. Carrie Busey will become an “overchosen” school, meaning many families that put it as a first choice – and won’t receive it. It’s bound to happen – that a school moving into a brand new building will become one of the cool kids overnight.
2. Despite the really interesting new “magnet” curriculum at Stratton, not enough parents will take advantage of the opportunity this year – as has been in the case in years past.
3. Dr. Howard continues to lag behind in the great facility race, meaning it will also fall to the bottom of many parents’ lists.
Parents of incoming kindergardeners: I wish you lots of patience, and a dose of good luck.
Laura Weisskopf Bleill is the co-founder and editor of chambanamoms.com. You can reach her at laura@chambanamoms(dot)com.