More on Austin Public Schools

In  my first blog post I shared that I have two young children, and that my oldest will be starting pre-k this fall.I've been keeping close tabs on AISD and its wonky budget for a while now, long before either child was conceived. AISD has problems. Has had problems for a very long time. They aren't unusual problems, most medium to large cities deal with these same problems every school year.
The problems are as follows: everyone wants to go to Casis Elementary. Maybe not Casis specifically, maybe Mathews, elementary schools in great neighborhoods (Clarksville, Tarry Town) with low crime rates, schools with high test scores and a very active PTA. So everyone wants a great school for their kid, if you aren't zoned you transfer right? Okay, you transferred! (Maybe not to your first choice because 36-53 schools are currently on transfer freeze, but lets say you went with 2nd or 3rd choice) Once you transfer from your failing school what happens? Well, the school fails further! A little less funding goes their way, and a highly motivated student and potentially 2 very interested and active parents are not around to rally support for the school. You won't have been the only student to transfer out, and odds are there won't be a student transferring in to take your place.
So the school fails a little bit more every school year until... what?
An opinion piece from the Austin Statesman suggests fixing the problem,perhaps by changing the transfer policy. It suggests that Austin's policy of allowing transfers without a specific reason is leaving some schools without a fighting chance.That is an interesting idea. This article though, doesn't actually offer a suggestion for specific change to the transfer policy. The author (who I couldn't find a name for?) doesn't even seem aware of the yearly transfer freezes that have been happening for the last 6 or more years. The piece seems motivated by wanting to avoid having the failing schools be shut down as part of an attempt to cover the massive budget shortfall. Keeping the schools open won't save the district any money though.
The author ends up back tracking on the suggestion to restrict transfers, reminding us that it wouldn't be right to limit a child to attending a school they might not feel safe or supported in. The author then suggests that if all the schools were created equal children wouldn't have to transfer, which of course is true, not an arguable point really. Again though, not being very budget mindful for someone that seems to be aware of all the trouble the budget crisis is causing.
In summary, I think this writer means well and is probably taking a stab at a tough issue that affects the lives of our little ones. I can see how it's difficult to draw a hard line when that line might take away someone's school. Someone will have to do it, soon.