I. Solicitor’s advice:

The District must revise the admissions criteria of its magnet schools and programs in light of the United States Supreme Court’s recent decision and other relevant case law in time for implementation for the October 2009 Magnet registration period for the 2010-2011 school year.

II. Why New Process?

The Current policy:

• Is unknown or unclear to many stakeholders

o Schools, administrators, parents and even students are unclear as to what is approved policy and what is at the discretion of a given program (i.e. only the International studies and Science and Technology Academy have Board approved entry policies)

• Was applied inconsistently across the city o Schools often applied standards that were not in line with board approved policies

• Can be overly complicated for parents and families to understand o Preferences were different at different schools and so complex that it was overwhelming to make sense of how to pick what is best in many cases

• Sometimes not admitting students equitably o Using 50% AA/50% other races in a district that now has more than 50% AA students was in some cases hindering AA students chances of being admitted to a given program.

III. September 2008, the Board

• Authorized the development of an admissions protocol that is consistent with federal and state law and uses race-neutral alternatives in the admissions process while still preventing minority group isolation.

• Directed the district to work with the PA Human Relations Commission (PHRC) to develop a legal admissions process which will reduce, eliminate or prevent minority group isolation.

IV. Desired outcomes of new process

• Improve district’s legal position by showing the districts work to revise our current magnet program goals and admission process

• Provide for the legal aspects to be incorporated along with any educational revisions that may be forthcoming from the magnet audit in time for the Oct. 2009 Magnet Registration Period for the 2010-11 school year • Ensure we have a race-neutral process that also produces a diverse student body in our magnet schools and programs

V. We have engaged stakeholders to come up with our Recommendations

• Solicitor’s office via Ira Weiss and Jocelyn Kramer

• PHRC through Jocelyn Kramer • NAACP, A+ Schools and Urban League through individual meetings

• Families through Magnet Application survey

• Reviewed findings and recommendations from the Magnet Audit from the fall of 2008

• Administrators through small group meetings

• District representatives from student services who have managed this process for many years

• Reviewed the outcomes of the Sci-Tech weighted lottery this year

VI. Three Crucial Pieces in the Magnet Process

1. Admissions: getting into the program before the school year begins

a. Sci Tech Academy 6-12 Process, Board approved June 2008

i. Preference given first to Program Continuity from grade 8-9 only

ii. Weighted lottery, 1 chance each for:

1. application

2. Proficiency on PSSA Math/Reading tests

3. Eligible for free/reduced lunch

4. Top 50% of their grade on PSSA Math test

5. 90% or better attendance in previous academic year

6. Attended Lincoln or Carmalt k-8 since these schools have sci-tech focused curriculum

b. CAPA 6-12 Audition Process

i. Grades 6-8

1. Arts audition using School Management Approved Rubric • Creative writing uses a writing sample • Performing arts uses audition

2. Essay written specific to the art form to which the student is applying

3. Letter of recommendation specific to art form

ii. Grades 9-12

1. Rising 8t graders who have met the following conditions are automatically accepted

• 3.5 QPA in arts form

• 3.0 QPA overall

• Attended CAPA 6-8 continuously

• Continuing in the same art form

iii. Additional spaces are filled using:

1. Arts audition using a School Management Approved Rubric

• Literary Arts uses writing sample

• Performing Arts uses audition

2. Letter of recommendation specific to the art form

3. Essay written specific to the art form to which the student is applying

Preference versus weight:

• We define a preference as a condition that immediately moves a student to the top of the list for admission

• We define a weight as a criteria that will increase your chances of being admitted-but does not automatically place you any higher on an admission list or automatically grant you admission

Preferences: K-5 and K-8 Siblings; 6-8 Program continuity from grade 5; 9-12 Program continuity from grade 8

Weights: Application, Geography (city is divided into 3 regions; preference for a school in the region where you live); Free and reduced lunch; also for K-5 Attending a preK program in the building; for 6-8 PPS 95% attendance rate (UNCLEAR IF THIS IS JUST PPS WHAT IF YOU HAD A 95% RATE AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL); 9-12 PPS 95% attendance rate and no 4-10 day suspensions in the previous year

2. Conditions: What you agree to comply with after beginning the program

a. Each magnet school will create a “Programmatic” document that will outline the specific expectations of the themed program and be given to students. It will be:

o Communicated clearly to students before they enroll in Options and Offerings Guide and on the website

o Be approved by the superintendent

o Where required, approved through the board (e.g. uniforms)

b. Additional conditions for high school entrance to IB, Pre-Engineering and Computer Science o The exceptional rigor of these programs requires that students: • Must have scored at least basic on the PSSA in reading and math in 7th grade • Must attend summer school in those areas where they did not score proficient in either reading or math • Have earned a 2.5 GPA in 7th grade

c. Additional conditions for high school entrance to all other HS magnet programs • Must attend summer school in those areas where they did not score proficient in either reading or math

3. Continuing: Remaining in a program throughout the year and over time

a. Elementary- i. 90%* attendance

b. Middle- i. 90%* attendance ii. No more than one 4-10+ day suspension/year iii. 2.0 GPA (C average)

c. High School- i. 95%* attendance ii. No more than one 4-10+ day suspension/year iii. 2.0 GPA (C average)

New consistent Process for Rescinding Magnet Status: Semester Break- o A list is sent to each school with names of students who have not met any criteria for remaining in the program o Letters are sent home via certified mail for each student on these lists with the date and time for guardian conferences that will occur on report card days o On report card days, a contract is set up for students that outlines the steps they will take to meet the criteria in the areas where they are struggling-these forms are copied and sent to Executive Directors o At the end of the academic year, students receive either:

1. a letter saying they are now meeting requirements and can continue in the program

2. a letter saying a student has made progress towards these goals and may stay in the program one more semester to work towards goals

3. a letter saying a student has made insufficient progress towards these goals and is being removed from the program

VII. Next Steps

o March and April-

1. EFA Parent Meeting, March

2. Public Hearings, March 16 and April 27

3. Public roundtables to gain feedback TBA- ASSUMING THESE WERE APRIL 7 AND 9

o April 29-Board Vote

o May-production of magnet guide and FAQ for communications.