VENTURA : School Transfers Might Be Limited

Beginning in the fall, Ventura parents may send their children to any public school in the district, regardless of where they live.

But there is a catch.

Under a policy that will be considered by the Ventura Unified School District board Tuesday, parents may move their children only to schools that are not already full with children from the surrounding neighborhoods.

About half of the district’s 23 schools are expected to have room next year only for students who live within their attendance boundaries, said Arlene Miro, director of administrative services.

“We’re not going to deny anybody into a school . . . if there is room after the neighborhood kids come into the school,” Miro said.

The proposed policy will also allow the district to limit transfers that threaten to upset the racial balance at a school. For instance, if a high number of white students are asking to leave a particular school, the district may deny the requests if it decides that the transfers would cause too great a change in the ratio of whites to minorities.

A new state law that took effect at the beginning of this year requires all school districts to establish policies allowing transfers between schools. But the law allows districts to limit transfers to prevent crowding and to maintain racial or ethnic balance.

Parents in the Ventura district are already able to send their children to schools outside their neighborhoods, but only if the parent can show a compelling reason for the transfer, such as if the new school offers an academic course not available elsewhere.

The new school choice policy would allow parents to request such a transfer without having to give a reason.

If the Ventura school board approves the policy Tuesday, parents will be able by the end of this month to begin applying for transfers for the next school year.

Applications will be available at all schools in the district, Miro said.