End of District of Choice could change campus
August 25, 2016
Loading ...A major portion of the student body at Diamond Bar High School may lose their privilege to return to campus next year. Senate Bill 1432, commonly known as the District of Choice bill, has permitted parents and students freedom in choosing their educational setting for the past 22 years. This is the last academic year it will be in effect, as the bill is set to expire in July 2017.
Walnut Valley Unified School District is one of the largest District of Choice school systems in California and may be drastically affected from the loss of this bill. According to Assistant Superintendent Michael R. Hodson, over 3,400 out-of-district students currently enrolled at WVUSD schools may have to leave. The substantial decrease in funding will result in a loss of $28 million in revenue for the district, or 23 percent of the overall budget. More than 130 full-time teachers could be laid off, and the district may be forced to shut down several schools.
The law had allowed any school district in California that declared itself a District of Choice to accept out-of-district student transfers without requiring permission from their home district beforehand. This granted parents the opportunity to put their child in what they deemed was the best school setting.
The bill, while undergoing the process of being renewed, had been approved by the California Senate as well as four out of six state committees. However, it is being held in the California State Assembly Committee on Appropriations and has died in committee. The bill needs to be passed into law by Aug. 31.
According to WVUSD Administrative Director of Educational Services Jeff Jordan, the district was pushing for a five-year extension of the bill.
If the bill expires, every out-of-district student enrolled in the Walnut Valley district could be forced to leave their school, possibly at the end of the school year. However, that is a “long ways away,” according to Jordan, as nothing has yet been finalized.
“I’d go back to the Chino Hills district,” DBHS junior Patrick Tran said. “Comparing the two, [it’s] just different levels in education, different levels in athletics, different levels in everything. Just comparing the areas around here, Walnut’s the best.”
Junior Brian Song would also have to return to his home district of Pomona.
“[For] so many high school kids, especially us juniors, senior year is the most important year for us,” Song said. “If we don’t get good letters of recommendation for colleges there’s no way that we would actually be able to go to a good college. We’ve been striving so long for that one goal of college, you know?”
A petition launched by parent Nancy Kim is rapidly gaining signatures from students and parents alike and has currently reached over 3,700 supporters. Students who wish add their signature to support the campaign to “Let Parents Have Choice in Their Children’s Education” can find the petition online at https://www.change.org/p/let-parents-have-a-choice-in-their-children-s-education.
A rally to save the District of Choice Bill will take place on Saturday at Maple Hill Park in Diamond Bar. State Sen. Bob Huff, creator of SB1432, will speak, along with several student speakers as well.
An alternate bill was proposed by Assembly members Lorena S. Gonzalez and Patrick O’Donnell to allow out-of-district students attending a District of Choice school to continue their education at that school if they were enrolled before July 1, 2017. The compromise, known as Assembly Bill 1771, was amended in the state Senate on August 19.
According to Jordan, it is currently under debate whether this would ensure that existing students stay until high school graduation or until they leave the school they are currently attending.
Telmri
Aug 30, 2016 at 4:22 pm
I disagree KYZ not everyone pays property taxes only home owners and I am sure if you look at the numbers of the doc students their are less homeowners than there are more. So I agree that it is not fair Walnut residents foot the bill for others
Kyz
Aug 29, 2016 at 12:37 pm
DOC is a great program. People who complain about “their property taxes paying for out of district students” don’t realize how California allocates education funds. Everyone pays property taxes to the state, and the state redistributes those taxes based upon enrollment. Most property taxes DO NOT STAY LOCAL. Only voted indebtedness remains local (i.e. local bond measures). In other words, my DOC child brings $8341 in state funds to the district we attend that they otherwise WILL NOT RECEIVE. It is a very real possibility that schools will have to close and teachers and support staff WILL be laid off. Say goodbye to a lot of your exceptional programs if DOC is allowed to die.
Jay Cha
Aug 28, 2016 at 7:33 am
I doubt “several” schools would close and so many teachers would lose their jobs. The district should have planned for this ahead of time knowing that the End of Choice could possibly end. However, it is also unfair for the residents of Walnut to have higher property taxes to pay for a school districts improvements when so many out of towners attend them. End district of choice, if the student is smart, they would still be smart at thier home school. And if they have friends here, well guess what….they’ll have more friends. Honor student here, valedictorian there.
Rodelo Dimaano
Aug 26, 2016 at 5:16 pm
Please let the non district residents stay as is. Thanks
Kim Petitt
Aug 26, 2016 at 7:16 am
My daughter has been at this district since kindergarten and has made many great relationships throughout the years. She’s now in 10th grade and I would want her to graduate from there. My daughter going to another district would be detrimental.
Hameeda Ahmed
Aug 25, 2016 at 11:21 pm
I would like my child to stay and graduate from WVUSD.