Recommendations

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Recommendations

A. Criteria for Evaluating the School District’s Program of Choice.

The district established its choice program, which includes open enrollment and alternative education programs in the 1970s, with a clear vision that it would help families maintain their connections to public education at a time when there was a great deal of "disenchantment and mistrust…toward governmental agencies." (Lawson, Herman, A System of Uncommon Schools, 1986). The program has grown and expanded to include contracts with private alternative education programs and support of students who are taught at home by their parents or private teachers. As school enrollment has changed, as new standards have been introduced, and as neighborhood schools have incorporated many of the practices that were started in the alternative schools, it is unclear what criteria the district has for its school choice program.
Recommendation 1: The district has clear criteria for evaluating the school district’s program of choice. Those criteria include the following:

The district’s program of choice is fair and is perceived as being fair (e.g., funding, admission procedures, and placement of special programs).

The district’s program of choice helps ensure program stability in all schools.

The district’s program of choice provides a variety of alternatives that meet the needs of different types of learners.

The district’s program of choice supports overall community-wide goals (e.g., strong neighborhoods, compact growth, reduced trip-making, and strong connections between schools and the community).

The district’s program of choice is sustainable and part of a long-term plan and process.

The district’s program of choice improves the quality of education for all students.

Recommendation 1 responds to the following Schools of the Future Guiding Principles:

1. We believe that education must provide an environment in which all students are respected and have equal access and opportunity.

2. We believe that education must be flexible and responsive to the changing needs of students, the community, and society.

3. We believe that schools must provide a comprehensive, focused education, which challenges the whole student.

4. We believe that schools must be accountable to the public, providing a quality education while making efficient use of public resources.

6. We believe that schools must engage the community in education, providing and welcoming opportunities for collaboration.

7. We believe that school communities must recognize and respond positively to diversity.

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Eugene School District 4J

Recommendations

A. Criteria for Evaluating the School District’s Program of Choice.
	The district established its choice program, which includes open enrollment and alternative education programs in the 1970s, with a clear vision that it would help families maintain their connections to public education at a time when there was a great deal of "disenchantment and mistrust…toward governmental agencies." (Lawson, Herman, A System of Uncommon Schools, 1986). The program has grown and expanded to include contracts with private alternative education programs and support of students who are taught at home by their parents or private teachers. As school enrollment has changed, as new standards have been introduced, and as neighborhood schools have incorporated many of the practices that were started in the alternative schools, it is unclear what criteria the district has for its school choice program. Recommendation 1: The district has clear criteria for evaluating the school district’s program of choice. Those criteria include the following: The district’s program of choice is fair and is perceived as being fair (e.g., funding, admission procedures, and placement of special programs). The district’s program of choice helps ensure program stability in all schools. The district’s program of choice provides a variety of alternatives that meet the needs of different types of learners. The district’s program of choice supports overall community-wide goals (e.g., strong neighborhoods, compact growth, reduced trip-making, and strong connections between schools and the community). The district’s program of choice is sustainable and part of a long-term plan and process. The district’s program of choice improves the quality of education for all students. Recommendation 1 responds to the following Schools of the Future Guiding Principles: 1. We believe that education must provide an environment in which all students are respected and have equal access and opportunity. 2. We believe that education must be flexible and responsive to the changing needs of students, the community, and society. 3. We believe that schools must provide a comprehensive, focused education, which challenges the whole student. 4. We believe that schools must be accountable to the public, providing a quality education while making efficient use of public resources. 6. We believe that schools must engage the community in education, providing and welcoming opportunities for collaboration. 7. We believe that school communities must recognize and respond positively to diversity.