<p>WHEREAS: The Cambridge Public Schools Controlled Choice Policy is designed to create “diverse, academically rigorous schools;” and</p><p>WHEREAS: We can learn a lot about the (perceived) quality of our programs by looking at how families “vote with their feet,” in labeling schools as their first, second and third choices, to educate their kids; and </p><p>WHEREAS: It’s been more than a decade since the School Committee formally reviewed the Control Choice Policy – including not only the schools for which families ask, but also comparing these data to actual school performance (overall achievement and ability to narrow achievement gaps), and looking at what types of families tend NOT to get their first, second, or third choice; now therefore be it</p><p>RESOLVED: That the School Committee request an updated but streamlined review of the current Controlled Choice Policy from the Superintendent, to include the following items: Which schools are the most frequently chosen, which schools the most oversubscribed (number of families who list a school as the first, second or third choice, but do not receive a seat); how those most frequently chosen schools perform (on the MCAS and any relevant internal assessments) relative to the least frequently chosen schools (in overall level of achievement and in narrowing of achievement gaps); any relevant patterns in school choice by family demographic (e.g., high vs. low income); and a list of the schools that are the most frequently chosen by BOTH high and low income families; and be it further </p><p>RESOLVED: That the Superintendent also provide a recommendation, based on the School Department’s experience running this Program, as to changes in the Controlled Choice Policy that he would recommend (if any).</p>
