Education Week Webinar – Using Lotteries to Increase Diversity in School Districts

This webinar is a discussion of strategies for integration in school districts, specifically using lotteries in increase diversity. The key presenter shows that since 1996 to the present day the number of districts with integration policies have increase dramatically. However, there is still a long way to go. Strategies include redrawing district boundaries and choice-based integration. Choice based integration strategies include magnet schools, charter schools, transfer policies, and district-wide equitable choice strategies.

To create effective weighted lotteries the speakers states that districts should consider the landscapes (relationships between schools, enrollment numbers, etc.). And she also believes that diversity goals need to come before choosing a mechanism.  Mechanisms to increase integration and diversity need to be flexible and adaptable so that communities can draw on their strengths and achieve goals more rapidly. Weighted lotteries should come with recruitment by combining attractive schools to draw families into these schools.

The webinar included a presentation from Brooklyn Prospect Charter School. There are a variety of state and federal laws that must be taken into consideration. Charter schools face limitations based on these laws. A voice for Charter schools is the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools informs us that some states are silent on admissions preferences, some expressly permits weighted lotteries, interpreted to permit weighted lotteries for the disadvantaged, some limited the lotteries.Brooklyn Prospect Charter School  is a K-12 College Preparatory. It’s are finding excellent teachers and creating a diverse student body. At the school currently, there is no racial majority, and an even economic split. The schools aims to focus on these goals: (1) A strong academic program (2) strategic facility placement and (3) agile admissions strategies.

The webinar tool is a great resource. I personally prefer asynchronous content, because scheduling time to engage in one of these webinars can be a challenge. However, I liked the immediate feedback and the ability to ask questions in real-time.