In addition to regular newsletters, the Partnership releases occasional white papers or topic reviews about issues of general interest to the community. These reviews are longer than the newsletter summaries, allowing readers to understand a subject in more detail.
You are encouraged to follow the links found within the topic reviews as they typically contain all of the data used in any analysis or the source documents when appropriate or available.
Please contact Tim Simmons, vice president of communications, or Julie Crain, vice president of programs, if you have any questions about the white papers presented here.
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March 9, 2010
The role of magnet schools in Wake County
Purpose
One of the most discussed issues in the current debate about future student assignment plans is the role of magnet schools in Wake County. From redistributing magnet school programs throughout the county to leaving the current system largely untouched, school board members have floated a number of ideas since a new majority took office Dec. 1.
The purpose of this review is to help parents and others understand the advantages and challenges of different approaches. It also addresses possible changes that can be made to better address the original goals of the program – to fill schools that would otherwise be under-enrolled and avoid high concentrations of poverty. Click here to read the full report.
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Feb. 8, 2010
Assigning students to their closest school
Purpose
Following the election of four new board members this fall, a majority of the Wake County school board is interested in a student assignment plan that allows families to attend schools as close to home as possible.
The purpose of this review is to help parents and others better understand what effect that approach might have on individual schools. Charts containing information for every school as well as interactive maps can be found here. Distances between homes and schools are measured in miles driven. To continue reading this report, click here.
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Jan. 15, 2010
Year-round and traditional calendar choices for all families
Purpose
The Wake County school board approved a resolution Jan. 5 ending mandatory year-round calendar assignments beginning in 2010-2011. The purpose of this review is to help parents and others interested in the school system better understand the possible effects of that decision at individual schools and the district level. Wake Education Partnership is not endorsing or opposing the resolution. Its purpose in releasing this review is to help people better understand the topic so they can better follow or participate in the conversation.
This is the first in what the Partnership expects will be a series of topic reviews, prompted primarily by expected changes in the school system. To continue reading this report, click here.
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Wake Education Partnership is a 501(c)(3) non-profit created in 1983 to support public schools, in part by educating the community on current school issues. Most of its financial support comes from local business. For questions about this report, contact Tim Simmons, VP of Communication (tsimmons@wakeedpartnership.org) or Julie Crain, VP of Programs. (jcrain@wakeedpartnership.org ). This topic review can also be found at our website, www.wakeedpartnership.org, under the tab titled News Center.