Charleston County School District

Charleston Country School District

>> when it comes to education, one size does not fit all.

Each student bringing to the classroom their own unique gifts and talents, and to make sure that each student has every had advantage and opportunity, school choice week is your chance to apply to the school of your choice.

We're joined by the director of exceptional programs, and welcome.

>> thank you for having me.

>> how important is school choice week?

>> it's more than a week.

It's actually a most we opened the school process this year on january 28th, and it closes one month later, on february 27th.

>> why is this an important opportunity for parents and students?

>> it's important.

The parents are knowledgeable.

And all of our schools have wonderful idiosyncrasies, and wonderful staff, and so fort.

But we do have an opportunity to give students and parents other choices, and school choice is just one of those opportunities to narrow down and give information about the many different programs that we have.

Now, we have a, what we call a school showcase, and all of the schools get to showcase the neighborhood schools, and the unique programs that we consider choice schools.

>> you've been in this office for a couple of years, you're an educator your entire career, and where did you start teach?

>> actually, i started teaching in south carolina.

>> how are the schools different there compared to south carolina?

>> that was in 1983, so they have changed a lot.

With the technology, that's a long time.

A long time.

>> certainly, and when you see students, and they come to you with their ability to sing, to draw, to dance, to do a myriad of things -- >> of course, we want the opportunities at all schools, and it's what we would do for any student.

But we have special programs for skills and talents, and the school of the arts does have a great opportunity for students to hone in on the skills, but we have opportunities at basically every school.

But when we talk about school choice, that's another choice, to apply for the school the arts.

We have creative arts schools, and science schools, and stem schools, but as parents make decision, we hope that they would have the information on the website.

And make the best decision for their family.

When you look at all of the opportunities.

>> and do you ever get feedback from the parents after they have placed their child into the school of their choice, and how they have watched their child blossom and develop?

>> typically, they're happy in the education process.

Right now, we have 13,000 applications and we're already at 10,000 application.

That's not just students, but we might have two or three applicants for the program.

So i think we have up to 5,000 students now that have applications in for one option.

>> now, are all of those applicants going to get the school of their choice?

>> of course not.

Unfortunately, again, parents have the opportunity to explore those choices.

We have an online application system.

And we have a paper application opportunity for parents.

The online opportunity is on the district website.

And you can find that.

And you can basically learn more about our options and you can actually submit an application, and parents get to choose up to five selections.

The lower grades; and an ap program, and so fort.

>> it's not just arts and stem, but it's for particularly gifted students that can excel and complete grades quickly.

>> and we have our early college program.

Every school has it's own knewance but we encourage parents to learn more by reading.

And we have frequently asked questions, and a guide on the website.

And of course we have the opportunity for parents to come out on saturday the 1st.

But we also have application assistance nights.

The last was last thursday, and we had six application assistance nights.

And we also have drop off pick up schools, where parents if they want to pick up an application but we also have a hotline that parents can call.

It's 937-6582, and there's always someone to answer your questions, and if we can't get you then, because the closer to the deadline the busier, we'll call you back.

We're dedicated.

>> snatch.

>> and we're back with robin jones, and we have been and we have a few more days for parents to submit applications for the school of their choice, and we just went through the stem, arts, college prep.

Many different opportunities for students who posses different schools and talents and needs to get into the school of their choice.

So when you're talking about the application process, 13,000 so far.

>> that was last year.

>> 10,000 so far.

And so really, this is more than a week.

It started about a month ago.

But when you're putting down the school of your choice, you have five different choices, you said.

>> yes.

>> so you have your first choice, kind of like applying for college.

>> and we have opportunities for all students, including college prep and advanced placement at every school.

But we just give opportunities for students to maybe narrow in an skill or talent.

And we're about to open our advanced study, which will be open in charleston.

So we'll be narrowing -- that's more career technology education.

We have programs in -- >> kind of like -- >> in megatronnics, and career technology that runs the gamut.

So the specific program in that center, and there will be a specific from in that, and another in west ashley.

>> wow, a lot on the horizon there.

So is there any specific requirement for students to have to carry a certain gpa or background?

>> we would encourage parents to go online.

We have different kinds of school choice, you know, and we have students applying because it's just open lottery.

It's by numbers, and we're focused on students who live in a certain constituency area.

And we have programs that are considered criteria, where they have to meet a certain standard.

For example, academic high school has to meet a certain standard.

And it's published online, and they mayer participate in performs. >> this is not a lottery.

If you were in a charter school, you would have to go look on the website and look at specifics about the transportation problems. >> all right.

>> so every school is a little bit different, but there are some criteria, and some that are specific to the constituent magnet.

And you have to read about the details.

>> for the parents who don't get the number-one choice, is there a way to reapply, or is there a way to add a supplement to their education?

>> let me say this.

Our deadline is this friday, the 28th, and online application deadline, if you submit it online at 6 p.m., if you're returning the application to one of the schools and it's specific on the website to apply.

4:00 in if you drop off at the district office, and once you do that, you'll find out, if you got the school choice o.

The wait list, those are released on the 3rd.

And we tell people to take time in making decisions, if you're on a wait list, just watch it.

Because the deadlines, the decisions are april 23rd.

>> all right, you have me chomping at the bit.

Thank you so much.

And we'll have all of the