School choice options have increased significantly over the last several years, most recently with the implementation of The Open Enrollment Act created by SBX5-4 (Romero).
School districts and COEs across California are now required to provide greater flexibility for enrollment and student transfers than ever before. State and federal laws either mandate or provide options for increased parent choice including but not limited to: NCLB school choice, interdistrict attendance permits, school district of choice program and interdistrict transfer because of parent employment (Allen bill). The availability of charter schools provides further opportunities for parents to select a school for their child. In response to input from constituents, many school board members have modified their district’s or COE’s traditional school attendance boundary policies in favor of various school choice models which grant parents increased options to enroll their children in the district school or program of their choosing.
In addition, in 2010 the governor signed the Parent Empowerment Act, also created by SBX5-4 (Romero) which allows parents and guardians to petition the governing board of a school site to implement any of the Race to the Top interventions or other federally mandated alternative governance arrangements authorized by No Child Left Behind. If at least 50 percent of parents and guardians of current and future students that normally matriculate into a particular school site sign a petition requesting the LEA implement one or more of the four intervention models identified in RTTT: turnaround, restart, school closure, transformation, as well as the program improvement restructuring options.
CSBA is closely monitoring the implementation of these various programs and actively advocating on behalf of school districts and COEs to ensure transparent and fair procedures for both parents and LEAs.
Open Enrollment Act
Parent Empowerment Act
Resources