To: Seattle School Board
From: Lucy Gaskill-Gaddis, Chair, Education Committee for LWVS
Date: June 13, 2007
The League of Women Voters of Seattle supports the District's goal of establishing a simplified student assignment plan that supports academics, is equitable for all students and families, and results in cost savings. The League also believes that integration is an important goal for the district balancing it with the goal of academic achievement.
To achieve all these goals we believe that parents need to have a variety of options in choosing schools for their children. Choice is critical since there is not an equitable distribution of quality schools across the district. Establishing quality schools throughout the city must be a prime goal of the district.
For any assignment plan to work well, parents must have access to good information and have assistance readily available to support them during the process. A more simplified system will make it easier for many parents, but simplicity must not come at the expense of equity.
The League of Women Voters will continue to monitor the development of a new school assignment plan over the next few months. Thank for the opportunity to express our viewpoint on this important issue.