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Friday, March 9, 2007
Shopping For Schools
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Marietta City Schools, whose motto currently is “The Difference Is Excellence,” wants to become the “School System of Choice” by allowing parents to shop around for the right campus for their kids.
Superintendent Emily Lembeck has begun allowing parents to choose one of three elementary schools to send their children to next school year, rather than sending them to the campus for which they’re currently zoned.
According to a story by AJC education reporter Diane Stepp, Lembeck eventually wants to let parents choose from any of the system’s elementary campuses, each of which will be converted to theme schools, such as a school for the arts or one for gifted and talented kids.
In an interesting reversal of the typical school choice option — I’m thinking of charter schools and vouchers here — where parents often are encouraged to leave the public school system, Lembeck told Diane she hopes to lure families now using private or home schools.
One question: Will it work?
