Choice of School Video

Annual Choice of School

As you know, the Garland Independent School District is unique in many ways. One of the district’s more distinctive features is its open enrollment plan.

In most districts attendance zones determine where students will attend school. GISD employs a “Choice of School” program, allowing parents to select the campus they want their children to attend for the subsequent school year. The selection period takes place during the spring semester. Last year, ninety-seven percent of our students received their first choice and 99 percent received their second or third choices. Some of the processes that were adjusted for the last choice period assisted in achieving this high percentage rate.

Although our goal is to grant everyone’s choice, various factors play a role in the final outcome of matching students with campuses:

• overcrowding in schools
• walk zones
• transportation zones
• sibling rules
• family preferences

All of the changes made last year, during the 09-10 choice period, were intended to make the process of choosing a school easier for GISD families. We look forward to yet another successful choice period this year.

What to Look for in the 2010-2011 School Year

• Garland ISD will annually offer a 30-day Open Enrollment Choice of School period for the following school year
• Choice of School requests are honored based on the capacity of the school
• Assignments are processed by priority: Residing within a designated walk or transportation zone
• Proximity to campus
• Family preference
• The Magnet School Application Period will begin during the fall semester and continue into the spring semester, concluding prior to the 30-day Choice of School periods for both elementary and secondary schools.

Choice of School Period

The Open-Enrollment 30-day Choice Period will occur in the spring semester. This year, elementary and secondary students will have two separate open enrollment periods, which are as follows:

• Secondary Choice Period (Grades 5-11) 
  January 21 – February 19
• Elementary Choice Period (Grades PreK-4) 
  March 2 – March 31

Forms

Individual forms have been developed for elementary (orange forms) and secondary (green forms) selections.  Forms will be sent home with students the day before the 30-day choice period begins.

Forms can also be obtained from:

• Your neighborhood Garland ISD school
• Garland ISD Student Services Center
  720 Stadium Drive; Garland, TX 75040
  (SE corner of Glenbrook and Stadium Drives-near William Stadium) 
• Harris Hill Administration Building Reception Desk
  501 S. Jupiter Road; Garland, TX 75042
  (SW corner of Jupiter and Walnut – across Jupiter from the Forest/Jupiter DART station)

Family Preference Option

Remember, the Elementary Choice of School form includes a “family preference” option. With this option, a family can indicate whether:

• Option 1 - It is more important to have all of their children at the same campus, even if none of their choices can be honored; or
• Option 2 - It is more important to receive one of their choices, whenever possible, even if their children must attend different campuses

What Will Remain The Same?

• Garland ISD will annually offer a 30-day Open Enrollment Choice of School period for the following school year
• Choice of School requests are honored based on the capacity of the school
• Assignments are processed by priority:
  Residing within a designated walk or transportation zone
• Proximity to campus
• Family preference

How long does your choice remain "Active"?

Choices made by the parents of elementary students during the 2010-2011 Choice period will stay active for subsequent choice periods as long as the student remains enrolled in the Garland ISD unless one of the following conditions occurs:

• Student moves from Pre-K to elementary school
• Student moves from elementary to middle school
• Student moves from middle school to high school
• Parent wishes to make a new choice during the 30-day Choice of School period
• Student transfers to a school any time after the last Choice of School period
• Secondary students who do not submit a choice of school form during the 30-day Choice of School period will be automatically assigned to their last location.

View the flow chart to see an illustration of the process used by the Department of Student Services & School Choice to determine campus assignments.

Why does Garland ISD have a Choice of School Plan?

The District is governed by a desegregation plan under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, approved under the 1970 Civil Court Order, and amended in 1987 by Civil Court Action.

Under the provisions of the plan, the District does not designate school attendance areas during the annual 30-day Choice of School selection period, when parents or students 18 years of age or older are required to select the school the student would like to attend for he upcoming school year.

The upcoming 30-day choice period is conducted every spring semester. If by the end of the choice period the parent or 18-year old student has not selected a school, the District will make a choice for the student. These choices are binding for the next school year.

• Choice of School Process
• Choice of School Process with Flowchart
• Choice of School Period
• Choice of School Frequently Asked Questions