CMS Still Adjusting Student Assignment Plan
CHARLOTTE, NC — Less than 24 hours away from a vote on phase two of the controversial CMS student assignment plan, the district continues to adjust the proposal.
Critics say it’s not doing enough to help students in poor performing schools, and that the vote should be delayed.
“The lack of response of leadership to the community I think has really eroded the public will and trust in the district,” says Charlotte area education organizer Jess Miller. “And that’s part of why we’re seeing so much contention.”
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools student assignment plan is conservative to say the least.
While it would impact the socioeconomic diversity of 74 schools, no one is sure how much difference it would make. Ff the 40 c-m-s schools with at least 70% poverty, 37 would still be that way under the proposal.
Education activist Kayla Romero says the students she works with wonder what this student assignment plan really changes.
“When they started to see what the actual impact was, they felt like, well, this isn’t, this isn’t really doing that much,” says Romero. “They also don’t think this is the answer to equity, in terms of moving students around.”
Miller says it’s hard to evaluate the CMS plan, since the district hasn’t released a mandated Equitable Educational Opportunities report in seven years.
“We’re not only desegregating our schools, but that we’re truly integrating,” says Miller. “And that within our schools we’ve got students in classrooms that are challenging to them. And that we’re providing them with support that they need no matter where they come from, and what their zip code is.”
In the end, it is CMS leadership that will have to implement the student assignment plan.
“I think the school board was called upon by the Opportunity Task Force to take a bold and courageous step, and I think this is a first, bold and courageous step,” says current CMS Superintendent Ann Clark. “There will have to be others.”
“You have to really deal with this issue of equity,” adds incoming superintendent Clayton Wilcox. “You know, how do you go about lifting all boats, if some boats just aren’t even in the pond?”
“At the end of the day it is, I think, about our highest need students having a stigma around them,” says Romero. “And that’s not fair.”
WCCB Charlotte will be there as the school board votes on phase two of the student assignment plan motion by motion Wednesday night. There is a public comment session before that vote.
