| For several years now Minneapolis Public | | | | broaden the number of schools which are |
| Schools have been emphasizing the need for | | | | considered rigorous. If a more diverse |
| students to have a choice in which school | | | | population is represented at each school, |
| they attend. Giving the students and the | | | | then the degree of rigor at each school can |
| parents a hand in the decision making process | | | | be standardized. This will allow for a more |
| gives the family a sense of ownership. The | | | | equitable school experience across |
| student will feel he or she has, by making | | | | geographic, racial, social, and economic |
| this very important decision, invested in a | | | | boundaries. |
| scholastic future. And it is the invested | | | | |
| student who is more likely to stay in school | | | | Minneapolis Schools- Who Gets to Choose? |
| and more likely to become a contributing | | | | |
| member of society. | | | | With the new initiatives in place every new |
| | | | ninth grader will have to make a choice about |
| Recently the board of education of | | | | which school to attend. Of course more |
| Minneapolis Schools has decided to take its | | | | students may choose to attend a particular |
| emphasis on choice a step further and extend | | | | school than there are openings. The new |
| the idea to all students and all schools. | | | | criteria for choice in Minneapolis Schools |
| Students will no longer elect to make the | | | | will break down according to preference. The |
| choice, but will be required to express their | | | | following factors will be considered in |
| wishes before school assignments are made. | | | | preference: |
| Minneapolis Schools are in mostly uncharted | | | | |
| territory here and although the idea of | | | | 1. Students who attended a middle school |
| choice has been working well in the district, | | | | which feeds directly to a certain high school |
| mandatory choice will present its own | | | | will be given preference. |
| problems. | | | | |
| | | | 2. Students whose Minneapolis Schools |
| Choice in Minneapolis Schools- The Reasons | | | | attendance area is in direct proximity to the |
| Behind It | | | | chosen high school will be given preference. |
| | | | |
| Minneapolis Schools have been pushing the | | | | 3. Students whose siblings attend a certain |
| idea of school choice for several reasons, | | | | high school in Minneapolis Schools will be |
| not the least of which is a defense against | | | | given preference to also enter that school. |
| school vouchers. But there are broader, more | | | | |
| far-reaching ideas behind this latest | | | | 4. Students whose demographic is |
| movement. For one, Minneapolis Schools are | | | | underrepresented in a particular high school |
| seeking to create more diverse institutions. | | | | will be given preference. |
| By allowing students a choice as to which | | | | |
| school they want to attend, the district is | | | | Choice in Minneapolis Schools- Is It Worth |
| hoping that students will elect to travel | | | | It? |
| outside their attendance area which may be an | | | | |
| ethnically or racially homogeneous area. By | | | | Like it or not, this is the direction that |
| allowing students choice, Minneapolis schools | | | | Minneapolis Schools are heading. Although |
| may be able to overcome years of legally and | | | | school choice may have some drawbacks, its |
| culturally imposed segregation. | | | | positive aspects far outweigh the negatives. |
| | | | Just make sure to assess all factors and |
| Another reason Minneapolis Schools are | | | | choose wisely. |
| pursuing the idea of school selection is to | | | | |