Agenda

1
Establishing a Comprehensive Magnet Program Policy
Presented at the September 9, 2008 Board
Education Committee Meeting
2
History of PPS Magnet Programs

• Magnet programs evolved as part of the Districts
  response to the 1971 Pennsylvania Human Relations
  Commission (PHRC) finding regarding the need for
  desegregation at PPS.
• Between 1979 and 1989, the District developed and
  amended various Desegregation Plans based on
  input and approval of the PHRC.
• The last complete Desegregation Plan adopted by
  the Board and approved by the PHRC was on
  February, 22, 1989.

3
The 1989 Desegregation Plan

• In addition to the voluntary Magnet Schools and
  Programs contained in the 1989 PLAN, the
  Desegregation Plan contained mandatory
  desegregation measures
• 12,000 students were reassigned
• 8,000 bused to a new school assignment.

4
The PA Law Changes in 1996

• The District continued to implement the 1989 PLAN
  with minimal amendments due to school closings
  and creation of other magnet programs until 1996.
• In 1996, the Pennsylvania General Assembly
  discontinued the Pennsylvania Human Relations
  Commissions authority to require mandatory
  reassignment and bussing of students.

5
Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) is Amended

• The 1996 legislative act voided much of the 1989
  PLAN.
• Section 958.2 was added to the PHRA and provided
  in part that, neither the Pennsylvania Human
  Relations Commission nor any local human
  relations commission nor any court, , shall
  impose any requirement that pupils be assigned
  to attend any public school other than the school
  of appropriate grade level that the pupil
  qualifies to attend closest to the students
  home. 43 P.S. 958.2

6
Current Status of PPS Magnet Programs

• The District voluntarily continued its Magnet
  program with the goal of achieving racial balance
  in its Magnet schools.
• PPS has approved extensive changes to its Magnet
  programs and schools over the past 20 years.
• The District has continued its voluntary magnet
  program with the stated goal of achieving racial
  balance.

7
June 2007 Supreme Court Ruling and Implications
for PPS

• According to the recent Supreme Court ruling, it
  is unconstitutional to use individual racial
  classifications absent showing of de jure
  segregation.
• The Districts current admissions process for
  magnet programs uses individual race
  classifications to attempt to achieve racial
  balance, which is problematic in light of the
  Supreme Court ruling.

8
Solicitors Advice

• The District must immediately update its
  communications to remove references to racial
  balancing and restate the magnet program purpose
  as to reduce, eliminate or prevent minority
  group isolation.
• The District must revise the goals and admissions
  criteria of its magnet schools and programs in
  light of the United States Supreme Courts recent
  decision and other relevant case law in time for
  implementation for the November 2009 Magnet
  Registration period for the 2010-11 school year.

9
Proposed Magnet Resolution

• Authorizes the development of an admissions
  protocol that is consistent with federal and
  state law and uses race-neutral alternatives in
  the admissions process to prevent minority group
  isolation.
• Directs the District to work with the
  Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) to
  develop a legal admissions process which will
  reduce, eliminate or prevent minority group
  isolation.
• The PHRC has reviewed the proposed resolution and
  made minor edits that the Solicitor concurs with
  and will include in the final version for Board
  action at the September 24th Legislative Meeting.

10
Rationale for Board Action Now

• Improves Districts legal position by showing the
  Districts intent to revise its current magnet
  program goals and admissions process.
• Provides for the legal aspects to be incorporated
  along with any educational revisions that may be
  forthcoming from the magnet audit in time for the
  November 2009 Magnet Registration Period for the
  2010-11 school year.

11
Overview of Timeline

• October 2008 January 2009 Staff reviews
  results of Magnet Audit, develops phased
  implementation plan for improvements to magnet
  schools and programs and develops race-neutral
  alternatives for admissions process.
• February 2009 Completion of proposed admissions
  protocol for discussion with PHRC.
• March/April 2009 PHRC review and completion of
  final resolution of admissions process for Board
  review. Board presentation of plan and
  recommendations to enhance magnet schools and
  programs.
• May 2009 Adoption of Magnet Policy by Board,
  including admissions process and any revisions to
  magnet programs for 2010-11 school year.
• June/July 2009 Writing of Choices booklet and
  implementation of necessary processes to support
  policy and any 2010-11 magnet program changes.
• August 2009 Printing of Choices booklet
• September 2009 Mailing of Choices booklet
• November 2009 Magnet Registration Fair and
  application period occurs for 2010-11 school year