Comments on: Locals denied kindergarten seats http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/03/24/locals-denied-kindergarten-seats/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:58:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: parent http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/03/24/locals-denied-kindergarten-seats/#comment-5532 parent Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:01:22 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/03/24/locals-denied-kindergarten-seats/#comment-5532 I also have the same questions as confusedbynycdoemom. When there are not enough seats to fill the demand and there is a lottery, there needs to be more transparency in the lottery process, to ensure that all procedures are followed fairly and that all children are given equal chance to secure a seat. I heard of one case for Pre-K where the Parent Coordinator was the person to write the child's name on a piece of paper, fold the paper and place it in a container. Sounds fine, but some parents observed that the Parent Coordinator folded some paper many times into a small piece, and other paper with just twice so that the piece of paper was clearly a different size. The Parent Coordinator was also the same person to pull the pieces of paper with the names out of the container in the lottery which was held in the school's auditorium. Not surprisingly, the child of a parent who has personal issues with the Parent Coordinator did not get a seat in the school. Politics abound everywhere. I also have the same questions as confusedbynycdoemom. When there are not enough seats to fill the demand and there is a lottery, there needs to be more transparency in the lottery process, to ensure that all procedures are followed fairly and that all children are given equal chance to secure a seat. I heard of one case for Pre-K where the Parent Coordinator was the person to write the child’s name on a piece of paper, fold the paper and place it in a container. Sounds fine, but some parents observed that the Parent Coordinator folded some paper many times into a small piece, and other paper with just twice so that the piece of paper was clearly a different size. The Parent Coordinator was also the same person to pull the pieces of paper with the names out of the container in the lottery which was held in the school’s auditorium. Not surprisingly, the child of a parent who has personal issues with the Parent Coordinator did not get a seat in the school. Politics abound everywhere.

]]> By: confusedbynycdoemom http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/03/24/locals-denied-kindergarten-seats/#comment-5531 confusedbynycdoemom Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:27:33 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/03/24/locals-denied-kindergarten-seats/#comment-5531 As a mother with a child on the kindergarten waitlist in her zoned school, I am upset about more than the "wait until September" comment. How was it determined that my child was placed on a waitlist? I "pre-registered" in January. At that time, I was told that it is not first come, first serve - that all children may be pre-registered until March 16th. At that time, if necessary, a lottery would be held. Here are my questions: was there a lottery? who supervised it? when was it done? how was it done? where is my child on the waitlist? If indeed there is overcrowding, shouldn't it be done fairly and openly? By the way, the letter sent out to inform me that there was no room for my child was nothing short of insensitive. Finally, if my child is taken off the waitlist, will I be accommodated for anything I may miss, such as orientation, tours, afterschool priority, etc.? As a mother with a child on the kindergarten waitlist in her zoned school, I am upset about more than the “wait until September” comment. How was it determined that my child was placed on a waitlist? I “pre-registered” in January. At that time, I was told that it is not first come, first serve - that all children may be pre-registered until March 16th. At that time, if necessary, a lottery would be held.

Here are my questions: was there a lottery? who supervised it? when was it done? how was it done? where is my child on the waitlist? If indeed there is overcrowding, shouldn’t it be done fairly and openly?

By the way, the letter sent out to inform me that there was no room for my child was nothing short of insensitive.

Finally, if my child is taken off the waitlist, will I be accommodated for anything I may miss, such as orientation, tours, afterschool priority, etc.?

]]> By: Caren http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/03/24/locals-denied-kindergarten-seats/#comment-5526 Caren Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:55:19 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/03/24/locals-denied-kindergarten-seats/#comment-5526 The scenario of families being offered more than one seat extends beyond the 196/303 situation. The process was created to generate precisely this phenomenon all over the city, since the city permitted applications to as many schools as desired and left it to the schools to determine enrollment without any coordination or cooperation. Moreover, the application processes varied considerably (e.g., 101 required completion of about 25 forms plus an additional meeting with an enrollment person just to apply). There's no reason to put families and children through such anxiety, and for families with children already enrolled in pre-k at the school it is a terrible way to build community (or, put more precisely, it is a great way to ruin the community already built). The scenario of families being offered more than one seat extends beyond the 196/303 situation. The process was created to generate precisely this phenomenon all over the city, since the city permitted applications to as many schools as desired and left it to the schools to determine enrollment without any coordination or cooperation. Moreover, the application processes varied considerably (e.g., 101 required completion of about 25 forms plus an additional meeting with an enrollment person just to apply). There’s no reason to put families and children through such anxiety, and for families with children already enrolled in pre-k at the school it is a terrible way to build community (or, put more precisely, it is a great way to ruin the community already built).

]]> By: BoysMom http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/03/24/locals-denied-kindergarten-seats/#comment-5523 BoysMom Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:55:47 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/03/24/locals-denied-kindergarten-seats/#comment-5523 DOE explanation for "what happens in first grade to the kids not given a seat in K for their zoned school? would likely be "just wait". It seems to be their response to everything. DOE explanation for “what happens in first grade to the kids not given a seat in K for their zoned school? would likely be “just wait”. It seems to be their response to everything.

]]> By: midtown mom http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/03/24/locals-denied-kindergarten-seats/#comment-5519 midtown mom Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:01:14 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/03/24/locals-denied-kindergarten-seats/#comment-5519 Can you explain what happens for kids not given a seat for k in their zoned school in first grade? Can you explain what happens for kids not given a seat for k in their zoned school in first grade?

]]> By: DI http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/03/24/locals-denied-kindergarten-seats/#comment-5518 DI Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:00:34 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/03/24/locals-denied-kindergarten-seats/#comment-5518 Regarding district 28 in Queens- in the PS196 zone there are students who were offered spots in two schools. This is where PS303 was created (hearsay has it) to alleviate the overcrowding at 196. PS303 gave priority to those zoned for PS196; the schools processed their applications separately, so some applicants did receive offers to both 196 and 303. In this same zone there are also those who did not receive placement at either school. Saying parents can wait until September for placement is callous on the part of the DoE, unneccessarily stressful for the parents, and means that the child will most likely miss the first day of school. I am considered fortunate to have received a spot. However, instead of walking my child to a school 2 blocks away I will have to place her on a long bus ride to what would have been my second choice. Regarding district 28 in Queens- in the PS196 zone there are students who were offered spots in two schools. This is where PS303 was created (hearsay has it) to alleviate the overcrowding at 196. PS303 gave priority to those zoned for PS196; the schools processed their applications separately, so some applicants did receive offers to both 196 and 303. In this same zone there are also those who did not receive placement at either school.
Saying parents can wait until September for placement is callous on the part of the DoE, unneccessarily stressful for the parents, and means that the child will most likely miss the first day of school.
I am considered fortunate to have received a spot. However, instead of walking my child to a school 2 blocks away I will have to place her on a long bus ride to what would have been my second choice.

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