Fulton Wants To Know What Parents Value in School Choice

During the last week of January and in conjunction with National School Choice Week, the Fulton County Schools System will host five forums to gather input on what families value most in educational options.

Generally referred to as “school choice,” the concept gives parents options to choose the best educational opportunities for their children based on their interests and unique needs, the school system said in its press release.

Fulton County Schools traditionally has offered flexibility through magnet programs, charter schools, open enrollment in schools with available space and through family and employee hardship transfers.

Additionally, over the past several years, Fulton County has expanded options through targeted requests for charter proposals, increased online offerings through Fulton Virtual Campus, and is working toward an expansion of the International Baccalaureate program in several elementary and high schools.

“We believe that education is not one-size-fits-all and that parents should have more say in how their children’s education is delivered,” said Schools Superintendent Robert Avossa. “This is the natural evolution of our charter system model because it focuses on providing an educational experience that is customized to what our families want.”

The first phase of the Choice Options initiative is focused on identifying and understanding the communities’ needs through five forums:

• 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at Westlake High School, 2400 Union Road SW, Atlanta;
• 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at Lake Forest Elementary, 5920 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs;
• 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at Centennial High School, 9310 Scott Road, Roswell;
• 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at Tri-Cities High School, 2575 Harris Street, East Point; and
• 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at Milton Center, 86 School Drive, Alpharetta.

The information gathered will be used to “create the building blocks for expanded choice options which will be implemented over the coming years,” the system added.

Each forum will be structured the same and parents can choose any meeting they wish. For those unable to attend, input also will be collected through the Fulton County Schools Choice Options website.

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