New DOE Kindergarten Registration Policy Successful...At Driving Parents Mad
We wrote earlier about the NYC DOE's decision to change some of the basic principles of Kindergarten admissions. The main one that they seem to be toying with is the promise that every child who lives within a school zone is entitled to a spot at that school. The fact that families would have to apply for their neighborhood schools was dropped on parents just weeks before the kindergarten application process began and gave parents no time to seriously reconsider their options.
Yesterday the NYTimes reported on the outcome of this system, which is that many families that expected seats in their local schools are being turned away. Parents are understandably frustrated, angry and worried and DOE spokesman, Andrew Jacob's, advice that families should "wait until September" is perhaps one of the most idiotic official responses I've ever heard—as if parents are going to sit on their heels until school starts in the Fall to figure out where their 5 year olds will attend school.
The only statement that might be worse than that one is his next one, which was, “The bottom line is schools have to accommodate all of their zoned students unless they work out a capping plan with us." If the implication is that schools will find a place for all the students that are zoned for them and that parents should not be concerned, then a) he should say that directly (but I assume he is not able to promise that) and b) that would make this entire registration process a farce because then why wouldn't they just admit all the parents in the zone in the first place.
So, what's going on DOE? Should we not trust you and assume that we will all get spots in our neighborhood schools? Or should we not trust you and assume that we did not get a spot in our neighborhood school and we should start frantically looking for other options for next Fall? Hmm...hard to decide which DOE not to trust.
As usual, I think there are many layers to this issue. I do believe that the DOE is trying to do something positive by equalizing opportunities for all NYC children to get a good public school education. And in reality, having more parents looking past the few coveted spots in a handful of schools would help bring up the level of all schools by getting those involved parents helping out at other good and improving schools. That said, to spring his on parents without any warning that they are changing the rules and to put parents through this much grief is unwarranted.
Of course, there are always other little issues that don't get reported as widely. And one such item is the other major change that was made to this year's registration process: that existing pre-k students would not receive priority when applying to their school's kindergarten program.
This policy is just completely mad. What this creates is a situation where pre-ks are now basically separate entities within the school, since pre-k families no longer are officially part of the ongoing school community. This means there's no incentive for them to get involved and contribute to the school or even commit emotionally to the school. It means families, after going through all the nonsense to get into Pre-K can not settle in to their school and focus on their child's education, but have to spend another year, not committed to the school, but hedging their bets, and seeking out school options. And, let's not forget about the children either, who may have to transition to a new school from one they presumably have come to love and trust and from all their new friends after only one year. How do you explain that to a kid?
Once a child is admitted into a school, even at the pre-K level, they should be guaranteed a spot. I understand that the DOE wants a level playing field for all K students, but there was a level playing field for pre-K admissions and the ones who got lucky shouldn't have to start all over again. This is just causing unnecessary turmoil, not to mention work and expense for the DOE and school staff.
Our public elementary schools are the foundation of our communities. To dismantle the neighborhood schools and to make the Pre-Ks independent entities within the schools, weakens our communities. But the biggest mistake being made by the DOE is that they are making these changes without thoughtful consideration and consultation with schools and parents, implementing them as if they are part of a shock and awe campaign where the element of surprise is their greatest weapon and they will figure out the exit strategy later.
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As a parent who is
As a parent who is currently applying for prek, it is not an equal playing field. My son will probably not get into a prek program because he has no chance to get a spot in a school near our home. There isn't a prek program in our zone and the priority at other schools goes to siblings and those in their zoned area. I would be extremely angry if they guarenteed K spots prek students because IT IS NOT AN EQUAL PLAYING FIELD. The whole K process is horrible as well. I am not looking forward to that process.
You have put into words
You have put into words exactly what I have been preaching to everyone that would listen! Unfortunately, I have had to put my daughter in a private school on the Upper West Side primarily because I my work schedule would make it difficult to drop off/pick up each day commuting from NE Bronx to 34th Street. But it works out well because our zoned/local public schools are horrible. I was going to place her in a local PreK4 program in 2008, but when I found out I would still have to go through the application process for K, I just forgot about it. Well, in these economic times, the cost of private school is prohibitive and I have entered the District 3 Lottery and charter school lotteries. These spots are limited and highly coveted so my admission is grim. I am not forced to keep her where she is and cut back on other household expenses to make it work. It wasn't like this when I was a kid, we went to our zoned school and they were ALL reputable! Can someone tell me what changed?
I understand completely!!! I
I understand completely!!! I just completed the kindergarten process and gave up in the middle of the PreK4 process because of the crap involved.
Emily, Let me clarify what I
Emily, Let me clarify what I mean by an equal playing field for Pre-K. I mean by what the DOE has determined to be fair for both pre-k and K. The criteria for pre-K admittance is the same as the criteria for K admittance, so if your school has a pre-K, yes, siblings have priority and people in the zone. That is the same when you reapply for Kindergarten. So the students that got in the first time have the same priority that they had for Pre-K admissions, they are just thrown back in the pool. So, it's not a real level playing field for every student, but based on what the DOE has decided is fair (giving siblings and people in the zone priority), it is the same playing field for both application processes.
It sucks that there aren't enough pre-k spots for all the kids, but imagine if somehow you are able to snag a spot at a pre-k outside of your zone. Rather than being able to say, "Phew, I got in to this great school. Now let's focus on participating in this great school community and my son's life at this school and making friends," you have to assume that you may get kicked out after pre-k. You are basically forced to treat it like a one year free stay and have to go through all the anxiety again. This isn't good for the families or for the schools.
I actually think it's a good
I actually think it's a good idea to have all kids be eligible for the K spots and not have the pre-K kids have a lock on them. How many families in this day and age can send their child to public school pre-K for a few hours a day? I know I couldn't do that while I was working, I needed longer hours than that for my son so he stayed in his preschool through pre-K. We were lucky and he got into the zoned school for K with no problems. But a K child zoned for their school shouldn't be shut out because they weren't able to attend pre-K there even if a spot had been available for them.
That's a good point about
That's a good point about the half-day pre-K. Our school has a full day pre-K. I guess the point is that there are exceptions to the rule and the DOE should take these into consideration rather than creating blanket rules with no flexibility for the individual situations at different schools.
Kids are more adaptable than
Kids are more adaptable than you think
Mommy: a lot of what you say is right on, but I must point out that your kid WILL be able to deal if he/she goes to one school for PreK and another for K. Kids are more flexible than you think.
My son went to one school for preschool, another for PreK and K, now we are in a different school. We all made the transition smoothly, and now as a 2nd grader he enjoys meeting new friends and still keeps in touch with friends from the old schools through other neighborhood activities. That's a good thing.
It's difficult not to be able to plan ahead, not to know where your kid may be going next year, but I think it's harder on the parents than on the kids. It's the parents who find it harder to make new friends, to get used to new principal and teachers and PTA, etc. But once your kid is in, he/she will be there for 6 or 7 years. That's a long time.
Maybe we should all just take a deep breath and admit that we don't live in the suburbs, it's not like when we were kids, we're in the middle of a demographic sea change here in NYC, the DOE is trying to keep up but things just move more slowly than everyone wants, etc etc. Let's keep the pressure on the DOE, but just realize you can't always get what you want, but you get what you need (something we are all trying to teach our kids, right?)
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