The JCPS BOE is holding a special meeting tomorrow at 5 PM to discuss their position on HB151. Join SOSKY, JCTA, Forward Kentucky, Dear JCPS, LSURJ, KAARPR, parents, teachers, staff, students and administrators at 4:30 in front of Van Hoose to protest HB151 and support the board in reaffirming Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS)’s position on neighborhood schools and House Bill 151: Retain Local Control Over Student Assignment.
Don't be fooled!
It may be called the "neighborhood schools" bill, but it's really the "no more choice" bill.
 HB151 is not going to give us "neighborhood schools" nor will is save a ton of money on transportation costs. Maybe that was the intent, but that's not what this poorly planned, over-reaching bill will do. Instead it will take away choice for many students and families in JCPS. It will return our schools to high concentrations of poverty and segregation, even in areas where integration is working. It will have far-reaching, unintended consequences, such as putting treasured magnet programs at schools like Noe, Crosby, Westport, Ballard, Atherton and Doss at risk. Meanwhile, in many areas, students will not be able to get into the school nearest their home, so they will risk being transported to the second, third or even fourth closest school. And it ties our board members' hands, preventing them from using common sense to make adjustments to student assignment plans, even if the community wants it.
That's awful! How does that work?
This bill does NOT protect MAGNET PROGRAMS. Magnet programs are the magnets at schools that currently also serve a neighborhood (or resides) population. JCPS cannot predict the neighborhood population from year to year, nor can they hold a consistent number of slots for these programs. As seats for these programs are taken by resides students, your child's chances of being able to apply to the program will disappear. This list, taken from the list of available magnet programs on the JCPS website, demonstrates programs that could potentially be in jeopardy by this bill.
Elementary Schools
This bill means that YOU'D LOSE YOUR CHOICE OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS and any magnet programs offered.
Middle Schools
MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT WOULD MOST LIKELY DISAPPEAR INCLUDE:
- Gifted and Talented, VA, and Performing Arts at Noe.
- Math, Science, and Technology (MST) at Meyzeek, Highland, and Farnsley
- Montessori at Westport Middle
- Visual and Performing Arts at Western
- Liberal Arts at Crosby
- International Studies at Highland
High Schools
ADDITIONALLY, ALL OF THESE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND YOUR CHOICE TO ATTEND THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS COULD DISAPPEAR:
- Doss: Business and Finance, Information Technology
- Fairdale: Human Services, Education, International Studies, and Heavy Equipment Science
- Iroquois: Engineering, Architecture, and Construction
- Pleasure Ridge Park (PRP): Communication, Media, and the Arts
- Valley: Medicine, Health, and the Environment
- Western: Early College and Culinary Arts Network 2
- Fern Creek: Communication, Media, and the Arts
- Jeffersontown: Engineering, Manufacturing, and Construction
- Moore: Medicine, Health, and the Environment
- Seneca: Human Services, Education, International Studies, and Urban Agriscience Technology
- Southern: Business and Finance, Information Technology, Automotive Technology, and Machine Tool & Die Network
- Academy @ Shawnee: Engineering, Aerospace (Flight), and Global Logistics
- Atherton: Human Services, Education, and International Studies
- Ballard: Communication, Media, and the Arts
- Eastern: Business and Finance, and Information Technology
- Waggener: Medicine, Health, and the Environment
Is HB151 just a mechanism to destroy what works in JCPS in order to give charter schools an upper hand? Join us at the rally and share your concerns, listen to speakers, find out how to take action to stop HB151.
 Save Our Schools Kentucky invites you to join the conversation in their private Facebook Group and be sure to sign up for emails. Thank you!
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