Some have hired attorneys to argue that the way the school district assigns students to schools has, at times, been discriminatory in using race as a factor. It is a battle that has been waged all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, with the high court ruling in 2007 that the race-based plan the district was using was unconstitutional.
Critics have argued the present system equates to what has been termed a "possessive investment in power." Those with money can afford to send their child to whatever school they choose, can hire lawyers to fight issues like race-based assignments, can afford to travel to the school themselves for after school activities, parent teacher conferences, etc. Those without may have limited resources to participate in after school activities or to support their children in those endeavors, cannot afford the lawyers to argue issues of equity and equality and may not be able to take time off work for parent teacher conferences or to participate in parent/teacher/student organizations.

The district, which has been working on this plan for more than two years, argues the new assignment plan, based on attendance zones, will better serve parents and students by placing them in schools nearer their homes. In a perfect world, that might be the case. It certainly will allow the opportunity for greater parental involvement. Social capital is absolutely key to a child's success. It will also save considerable money in transportation costs at a time when all of our resources are limited.
But it would still seem to raise issues of equity. Part of the reason Seattle Schools adopted the current open enrollment policy in the 1970s was to address the ability of poorer students and students of color to obtain the same educational opportunities as the district's wealthier students. Now, more than thirty years later, studies show that South Seattle schools are still made up of nearly two-thirds of students who qualify for a free lunch compared to only a fourth of those who attend schools in the north end. Dropout rates at South Seattle high schools double and sometimes triple high schools in the north end. How is the new attendance plan going to address these issues - or is it?
I have a lot of questions about the new plan, but not a lot of answers. A website dedicated to the new plan has a clickable link for frequently asked questions. Unfortunately, every section within it says: "This section will contain a list of frequently asked questions related to the new student assignment plan. We are currently updating this list and will post it very soon. Please check back soon and thank you for your patience."
I guess we'll have to wait for thecommunity hearings to get some answers. The school board is scheduled to vote on the boundary maps included in the plan in mid-November.