School Choice District Plans
District |
|
| Name | Audrey Lewis |
| Title | District Parent Coordinator |
| Address | 35 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd |
| City and Zip | Quincy , FL 32351 |
| Phone | (850)875-3241 |
| Web Site | http://www.gcps.k12.fl.us/For_Parents/Parents/parents.html |
| audreylewis2003@yahoo.com | |
| Description | Controlled/Open Enrollment The plan of choice, "BEST Choices" is supported with the objectives of providing a variety of educational choices for all students; substantially impacting students in low-performing schools by providing them opportunities to attend higher-performing schools; improving low performing and under-enrolled schools; increasing student achievement and expanding parent awareness. Gadsden's School Choice Program allows a student residing outside a school's attendance zone to attend another school based on the student's interest, unique learning style, or the schools specialized area of curricular emphasis. It is a controlled open enrollment program. All Gadsden County schools are schools of choice. There are: Charter Schools Magnet Schools Alternative Schools Exceptional Education Programs Choice Schools One of the main goals of Gadsden County is to increase parent involvement. Therefore, Parent Resource Centers and parent liaison roles were developed at each school in the county to enhance parent involvement. Mentee District: Madison County |
| Transportation Information | Three methods are used to provide transportation to choice students: "satellite," "designated stops," and "special route." Using the routing software purchased with the initial grant, the director of transportation was able to re-route buses to accommodate the school choice plan. The Transportation Department publishes bus routes prior to school opening in local newspapers and through the individual schools. "Satellite" applies to those students under AYP and to those who chose to attend schools in Quincy at Gadsden Technical Institute, Carter Parramore Academy, Windrush (alternative), Tallahassee Community College (dual enrollment), Crossroad Academy (charter) and those rising 6th grade students attending James A. Shanks Middle. Basically, these students ride their regular buses to their home school and then are transferred on to another bus to be transported to their respective centers. In the afternoon they are transported home without transfer. The students in the magnet program utilize some limited "designated stops." That is, parents may choose to bring their children to one of the three or four stops in each community (daycare, library, etc.) and then be transported to school on a special magnet student only bus. Since, the magnet school has relocated to central Quincy, transportation is not as stringent, although, a mixture of options continues to remain available to include pick up directly from home. "Special routes" are designed on a limited basis for three other options. Basically, some students are picked up and returned to a regular stop at or near their home if they chose to attend Wind Rush Academy (alternative). |
| Application Information | Parents make decisions as a result of information (printed material, visits to schools, teacher/administrator/parent/student conference, etc.) provided by each school. Then, the request is submitted to the principal of the home school. Then, the request form is forwarded to the Office of Student Reassignment by March 1st. Parents are notified about the decision by March 31st. Choice School transfers will be effective for the full school year. Enrollment in a school of choice for a full year will entitle the student to continued enrollment at that school without annual reapplication. |
Gadsden 
