Walnut Valley Parents Explain 'District of Choice'

Walnut Valley School District parents want you to know that you have a choice.

District of Choice Fact Sheet "Kids First...Every Student, Every Day"

What is District of Choice?

• District of Choice gives parents the right to choose the best educational setting fortheir child.
• By resolution of the local governing board, a California school district can participate in District of Choice (DOC).
• A DOC district enrolls students from other districts through a random and unbiased process.

District of Choice (DOC) and Walnut Valley USD:

• District of Choice has been in place in Walnut Valley USD for over 20 years.
• There are currently 3,560 District of Choice students enrolled at all 15 schools for the 2016-2017 school year. WVUSD receives equal funding for all students, including District of Choice students.
• District of Choice students are part of the fabric of our District. They are immersed in each of our classrooms and all of our programs.

Current Situation:

• District of Choice is set to expire in July 2017.
• The District of Choice Bill (SB1432) has been supported by the Senate, as well as the Assembly Education Committee. Due to a political stalemate, SB1432 is being held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee and will expire if not passed by August 31, 2016.
• All District of Choice students will remain in Walnut Valley for the entire 2016-2017 school year.
• Walnut Valley USD is currently working with our legal team regarding the interpretation of the law, and to ensure that all District of Choice students stay through graduation.

Loss of District of Choice:

• Students and their families lose the right to choose an exceptional educational setting that best suits their child's needs.
• This would result in approximately one out of every four students not being enrolled in Walnut Valley during the 2017-2018 school year.
• Losing District of Choice students because of a political stalemate has a financial impact on Walnut Valley in the amount of $29 million.
• Walnut Valley could potentially lose hundreds of teachers, support staff, and administrators, as well as the closure of several schools.

Next Steps for Parents:

• Parents need to call state legislators to express their concerns over the end of District of Choice.
• Parents need to contact by phone and email the two legislators listed below.

Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon:

• Email: assemblymember.rendon@assembly.ca.gov
• Telephone Capitol Office: (916) 319-2063
• Telephone Local District Office: (562)529-3250

Assembly member Lorena Gonzalez, Chair of Assembly Appropriations

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Image via Walnut Valley Parent, Michelle Santos