SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : Trustees to Act on School-Choice Issue

Getting a jump on other school systems, Capistrano Unified School District trustees are expected today to set in motion a program that will give parents the option of choosing which schools their children attend in the 1994-95 year.

The district began planning its program two years ago, long before the controversial school-voucher initiative, Proposition 174, was defeated in November, and before the Legislature mandated that all school districts implement school-choice policies by the 1995-96 year.

“I think we have a substantial head start in doing the types of reforms the public wants from public schools,” said district Supt. James A. Fleming.

The school-choice program will go hand-in-hand with the district’s plans to have its 36 elementary, middle and high schools offer specialized programs intended to increase parents’ and students’ options.

Today’s vote by trustees will establish guidelines for the school-choice program and is the first step in a six-week process that will involve parents in selecting schools for the 1994-95 year.

In February, the district will send letters to parents describing the new policy.

After that, a catalogue outlining the offerings at various schools will be available for parents.

Meetings to brief parents, in English and Spanish, will also be held.

On March 4-5, all district schools will be open for visits.

Then, on March 12, those parents who are seeking to transfer their children to new schools will be required to submit forms at one of the district’s “choice centers.”

One of the advantages of the formalized process is that district officials will get a handle on how many children may be moving from one school to another in the program’s initial year, said board President Paul B. Haseman.

“This does complicate the use of our facilities,” he said.

Richard Thome, assistant superintendent for elementary school operations, said the district anticipates that most parents will continue sending their children to schools in the vicinity of their homes.

A study the district conducted of similar programs in other states found that less than 10% of parents choose to move their children to schools outside their immediate areas.

“People generally tend to send their children to the same school that the neighborhood children attend,” Thome said.

One factor that may persuade some parents to keep their children at schools near their homes is a district requirement that families must provide transportation to schools outside their neighborhoods.

In the event that requests to enroll students in a school exceed the school’s capacity, the district has devised a list of criteria to determine which parents will be given priority.

That list will be voted on by trustees today.

Jolene Dougherty, principal of Ole Hanson Elementary, said principals and teachers are enthusiastic about the idea, because allowing parents the option to choose a school may increase parents’ involvement.

“It’s good for parents, good for students and good for schools,” Dougherty said.