'(I3/24-3S 13: 22 501 324 2023 LRSD COMMLNICATI fiDM @ 002.'1)03 Littie Rock School District For Immediate Release March 24, 199S For more information: SuelJen Vann, 324-2020 School District Opening Daycare Center Babies and toddlers will soon Join the ranks of students at a Little Rock high school. The Metropolitan Learning Opportunity Child Care Center will occuny a portion. of the Metropolitan Vocationai Techrdcal Center, located at 7701 Scott Hamilton Diive. Childcare Director Shirley Lewis is overseeing preparations for the April 1st opening of the facility. We are excited about ser''vtng young children from the age of six weeks to two and one-half years old in this center, levris said. We plan to provide childcare for any of our secondary students who may be young parents. The Metropolitan Learning Opportunity Child Care Center is funded by a $48,500 grant from the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission. The grant will fund materials and eqmpinent for the center, as well as paying the daycare costs for income-eligible students. In addition to providing daycare sendees., the center plans to teach appropriate parenting skills to teen parents in the fumre. ihe Center will be licensed by die .Arkansas Deparment of Human Sendees. We will work with infants and toddlers to improve tlieir developmental skdils by reading to them and providing age appropriate games, music and other activities, Lewis added, i he center is open to anyone in the cornrauniry. Private pay enrollments will be accepted in addition to the children of Little Rock studente. (more) 810 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501)324-2000 "os. 24.98 ^..11 324 2023 LRSI) COMMVMCATI OD.M @003.003 CAlIhfcMMlMni. tx. .<WU Metopohtan Child Care Center Page i of 2. Little Rock chool District Pupil Sendees Director Jo Eveljn Elston said that a survey of teen parents intiicated that some students, m ust leave school because they do not have childcare available. We believe the Center -w,!! help to keep some of our young female students in school by offering a daycare option for their infan.ts, Elston said. "A CjUdlitv daycare program in an educational setting will meet this need . Metropolitan Learning Opportunity Child Care Center joins the Rockefe-Uer tarty L liildhooc Program in sernng infantB and toddlers. Ihs new center -^sdll be open from. S:00 a.m. until 4
,30 p.m. Monday tliroug.h Friday. Parents ma'y visit the facility dlnng an open .house on Sunday, April 5, fioin. 2:00 un.til 4:00 p.m. Reggstration forms and additionaj ajiformation. m,a\ be obtained by calling Ms. Le'ads at 324-216404. 21/199S 08: 19 501-.924-20 lRSD COMMLInICATIONS P.AGE 02.'02 Little Rock School District f ar Immediare P,.elease April 21, 1998 For more information
Suellen Vann, 324-2020 Kindergiirten Students Celebrate National Kindergarten Day Thanks to YamelJs Ice Cream, kindergarten students in the Little Rock School Dismct ( LRSD) vnll enjoy ice cream parties today to cotnmsmorate National Kindergarten Day. Each kindergarten class in the LRSD received a Yarnells Ice Cream Party Kit winch included ice cream, scoops, bowls, spoons and napkins. We wanted tlie kids to have some fun vhile we took note of the significant contributions made by kindergarten programs and kindergarten teachers," said Doug Sanders. Yameils senior vice president. Early childhood education is the foundation for a successful, productive school experience. This is our way of encouraging the children, and saying dianks to the teachers, media NOTE: Janne Neals kindergarten class at Pulaski Heights Elementan' will have an outdoor celebration beginning at 1:30 p.m. today with huge bubbles and parachute activities as part of their National Kindergarten Day festivities. 810 West l^aTkham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501)324-2000 Little Rock School District MEMORANDUM To: \oard of Directors Boan From: es Gamine, Superintendent Date pril 23, 1998 Subject: April Desegregation Update The attached information represents the desegregation update for the month of April.Little Rock School District Desegregation Update Board of Directors Meeting April 23, 1998 FOUR-YEAR OLD PROGRAM A total of 990 applicants have applied for the four-year old program through April 1 1998. The Little Rock School District has seats for 720 four-year olds. Parents were notified by mail on April 17, 1998, regarding their placement in the program or on the waiting list. All unfilled seats are reserved for white/other students, with the exception of 12 seats at Badgett Elementary that are available for black students. All remaining vacant seats will be filled on a 1" come basis.PRE-REGISTRATION JAN. 26-FEB. 6 1999 4-YEAR OLD APPLICATIONS [ Applications Filed ________________II________ Name of School
Capacity BADGETT BALE BASELINE BRADY CHICOT CLOVERDALE FAIR PARK FRANKLIN GARLAND GEYER SPRING ML KING MABELVALE MITCHELL RIGHTSELL ROCKEFELLER ROMINE WASHINGTON WATSON WILSON WOODRUFF CLINTON CRYSTAL HILL 36 36 36 18 36 36 36 72 18 36 72 18 18 18 54 36 54 36 18 36 26 30 NON- Black IBLK 6 23 27 30 27 28 18 37 24 36 102 20 15 23 35 39 27 36 30 18 26 51 0 5 4 25 13 2 18 6 1 9 40 12 1 3 26 15 31 0 8 10 0 0 Total 6 28 31 55 40 30 36 43 25 45 142 32 16 26 61 54 57 36 38 28 26 51 I TOTAL ASSIGNED INON- Black I Black 6 18 18 9 18 18 18 36 9 18 36 9 9 9 27 18 27 18 9 18 26 30 0 8 3 9 13 2 18 6 1 9 36 9 1 3 27 15 27 1 8 10 0 0 776 678 229 906 404 206 Total 6 26 21 18 31 20 36 42 10 27 72 18 10 12 54 33 54 19 17 28 26 30 610 Non-Black Assigned total represent some 2nd choices LRSD - STUDENT ASSIGNMENT ]To
LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEJVED Ann S. Brown, Federal Monitor Office of Desegregation Monitoring APR 2 8 1998 From: Nancy Acre, Director Student Assignment Office OFFICE Of DESEGREGATION MONITORING Date: ^April 27, 1998 Subj.: Movement of 4-year old class Mrs. Sadie Mitchell has asked me to notify you that Little Rock School District has decided to move one 4-year old class from Badgett to Dodd, effective August, 1998. Dodd has a strong interest in offering the 4-year old class. They have polled their community and have asked the superintendent to allow them to have the class. Due to the decrease in enrollment and difficulty in filling the 4-year old seats in two classes at Badgett, it is the decision of the district to move one class to Dodd. Please feel free to call if you have questions. Thank you. Office of Desegregation Monitoring United States District Court Eastern District of Arkansas Ann S. Brown, Federal Monitor 201 East Markham, Suite 510 Heritage West Building Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501) 376-6200 Fax (501) 371 -0100 May 5, 1998 Nancy Acre, Director Student Assignment Office Little Rock School District 810 West Markham Little Rock, AR 72201 Dear Nancy: Thanks so much for your April 27 memo informing me of the districts decision to move a four-year- old class from Badgett to Dodd next fall. It was good to hear from you, and I appreciate your keeping me posted. 1 would appreciate some further infonnation if you have it. WTiile I agree that it makes sense to move the four-year-old class in the instance you described, Id like to know what policies and procedures the LRSD has adopted that provide criteria and guidelines for changing the location of its four-year- old classes. As you know, the district had previously committed to locating the four-year-old program at specific schools. As a matter of fact, the LRSDs new desegregation plan contemplates that the four-year-old classes will remain at their present sites or in the same general location. While Im not suggesting that the district should not move a four-year-old class to a new location, I do want to understand the process the district follows to arrive at such decisions. Since your memo indicated that Sadie Mitchell had asked you to notify me about moving the Badgett class to Dodd, Ill send a copy of this letter to her. Tliank you very much for your assistance. Sincerely yours, Anns. Bro\ S. Brown cc: Sadie MitchellRECBVF.e MAY 1 8 1993 OFFICE Or DESEGREGATION MONITORING Little Rock School District OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT Date: May 15, 1998 mIB To: Re: Ann Brown. Federal Monitor, Office of Desegregation Monitoring John Walker, Attorney for the Joshua Intervenors Early Childhood Program: Pre-Kindergarten We currently have, as of May 4, 1998, a total of 574 children signed up for the districts four-year old classes. 358 155 61 574 Black White Other Total (62%) (27%) (11%) We have 146 openings to fill before we reach current capacity of 720 seats. Recommendation: The District shall release all seats to children on the waiting list except two seats per classroom. The result would be the release of 114 seats to children on the waiting list, reserving 32 seats for children who move into the district during the summer. The District would release 50% of any remaining seats on the Tuesday after Labor Day. I he uisirici wouid release aii remaining seats on October 1. We understand that this is substantially what the Court has previously approved. I will request the Boards approval regarding the recommendation on May 28, 1998. If you have modifications that you would like for us to consider, I look forward to hearing from you. Re^peraully, Leslie V.cSarnine Superinten^nt of Schools 810 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501) 824-2000 e nuz.t4^ Office of Desegregation Monitoring United States District Court Eastern District of Arkansas Ann S. Brown, Federal Monitor 201 East Markham, Suite 510 Heritage West Building Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501)376-6200 Fax (501) 371-0100 Date: May 22, 1998 BY FAX To: Les Carnine From: Ann Bro Re: District Proposal for Releasing Four-Year-Old Seats Thank you for your May 15, 1998 memo about releasing empty seats in the LRSDs four-year-old program for 1998-99. I commend you for addressing this issue long before the start of the next school year. Im puzzled by your recommendation to release seats in increments and upon dates that bear no relationship to a district policy, procedure, guideline, or precedent of which I am aware. Nor do I agree that your recommendation is substantially what the Court has previously approved. Our records reflect no history of the district either proposing or implementing an incremental release of seats on a timeline such as that outlined in your memo. The districts practice has been to racially balance the initial spring enrollment of the four-year-old classes, reserve seats for white students in proportions that would preserve racial balance, hold those seats open until school is about to start (or actually has started), and then, citing the districts recruitment efiforts, ask the Courts permission to immediately fill the seats with black children from a waiting list. The LRSD has moved the Court for permission to release unfilled four-year-old seats on a timetable that was always the districts own (not that of the Court) and that also varied from year to year: the dates upon which the district filed its requests to fill vacancies were either in August or September as the new academic year was getting underway. The Court quickly responded to those motions, not wishing to delay childrens access to early childhood education. Because your recommendation represents a departure from the districts previous approach to releasing four-year-old seats, and because Im not aware of any district policies that guide its decisions on how and when to release four-year-old seats. Id appreciate an explanation of the process the district followed to arrive at the recommendation in your memo. As you requested, here are my suggestions: 1. Define the guidelines (policies, procedures, and timelines) for releasing early childhood seats, including an explanation of the reasons underlying the criteria. Make the guidelines sufficiently comprehensive to apply every year but flexible enough to allow for adaptation when special circumstances arise. I Page Two May 26, 1998 2. Use district records and consult with the parent recruiters to determine how many children usually move into the LRSD during the summer months and reserve seats accordingly. (I agree that it may be prudent to reserve some seats for new children, but how did the district arrive at 32 as the number of reserved seats needed for children moving into the district during the summer?) 3. Consider releasing vacant four-year-old seats before Labor Day and certainly well before October 1. Why wait to release half the remaining seats on the Tuesday after Labor Day (why 50% and why after Labor Day, which is September 7 this year)? Waiting until October 1, well into the school year, to release the remaining seats is a very lengthy delay. Its important for children to settle into their classes as early as possible in the new academic year. cc
John WalkerC. Office of Desegregation Monitoring United States District Court Eastern District of Arkansas Ann S. Brown, Federal Monitor 201 East Markham, Suite 510 Heritage West Building Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501)376-6200 Fax (501) 371-0100 Date: May 28, 1998 BY FAX To: Les Carnine From: Ann BrowJ Re: Comments on Second Draft of LRSD Recommendation for Releasing Four-Year-Old Seats Glad we finally caught up with each other on the phone. We both agree with the districts objective of seating children in early childhood classes as soon as possible in any new school year. I also agree that specific wording of the guidelines for releasing seats can be worked out in the next few days. Evidently my fax to you this afternoon crossed with the second fax you sent me, which contained some revisions of the earlier fax (sounds like whos on first!). I still stand by my previous recommendations and now, as you requested, add these, which pertain to the most recent draft Ive seen. These suggestions are to correct errors or clarify wording: Page 1, paragraph 3: Correct the error that appears in the third paragraph, because the district hasnt always filed in August. Below are the dates on which the LRSD filed its requests to fill vacant seats and the date the court responded over the last four years: LRSD Motion September?, 1997 August 1, 1996 August 16, 1995 August 25, 1994 Court Order Septembers, 1997 August 27, 1996 September?, 1995 September 7, 1994 Page 1, paragraph 4, last sentence, last phrase: Specify which disparity is to be closed. (I presume the disparity is that in academic achievement between the races, but its always best to be clear.) Page 2, paragraph 1, item b: The district doesnt report its enrollment on October 1. Rather, October 1 enrollment is the official student count that the district reports to the Arkansas Department of Education. Page 2, #6: Why release all but two of the vacancies per class? This may be a perfectly reasonable number, but what is it based upon? Do district records of enrollment patterns show that two seats per classroom will likely yield the number of vacancies the district wants to preserve over the summer?Office of Desegregation Monitoring United States District Court Eastern District of Arkansas Ann S. Brown, Federal Monitor 201 East Markham. Suite 510 Heritage West Building Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501)376-6200 Fax (501) 371-0100 Date: May 28, 1998 To: Les Carnine From: Ann Browi Re: Changes in LRSD Recommendation for Releasing Four-Year-Old Seats Thanks for faxing me a response to my recent memo about the districts proposal for releasing four- year-old seats. Your note asked me to give you a call today, which I did, but reached only recorded messages. I know that the Board meeting days are hectic, so Im faxing you this message in case we arent able to talk by phone today. The changes Pat Price suggested are reasonable and will help ensure better service to more children earlier in the school year. However, if the seven points in the proposed guidelines are to be consistently applied every year, as Ms. Price indicated, and are also to align with the districts desegregation goals, you may want to consider the points Ive listed below. (My intention isnt to edit your documents. Les, just to make suggestions that may head off some future confusion or problems.) 1. 2. 3. Because the whole idea behind reserving seats is to promote racially balanced enrollment, add a few words or a short sentence (perhaps to #1 on Pats list) to indicate that the districts goal is to racially balance its four-year-old program. In #4 on the list, it might be wise to clarify up front who is to be responsible for making the monthly assessment of vacancies. (Student Assignment?) In #5, change fill to read racially balance the vacancies that exist. (Thats what the recruiters will be trying to do in May and June: just filling the vacancies isnt usually the problem, but getting white children into them is.) 4. Because school starts on a different date each year, guideline #7 can become more generically useful if it doesnt include a specific date (like September 1), but rather a date in relationship to, say, the first day of school. Labor Day, or the month of September. For example, the wording might be during the second week of school or the day after Labor Day, or the first Monday in September. Just use which ever timeframe district records indicate is the best date for releasing seats to accommodate the after-Labor-Day deluge and give Student Assignment enough time to process the necessary paperwork to get the children into their classes as soon as possible.LRSD SUPTS OFFICE 925 P01 MAY 28 98 13:23 LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT 810 WEST MARKHAM LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS 72201 fax MJKIBER: (501) 324-2146 SUPERINTENDENTS OFFICE Date
/i To: '^rcixn-. n Telephone No,
MESSAGE: lOz' 1) Number of Pages Sent To FAX Phone Number J* f LRSD SUPTS OFFICE S25 P02 MAY 23 93 13:23 LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT TO
FROM: Dr. Les Carnine. Superintendent Pat Price, Director of Early Childhood Education DATE
May 28, 1998 SUBJECT: Response to Ann Browns Memo of May 22, 1998 Thank you for your suggestions regarding the memo of May 15, 1998, addressing the release of reserved seats in the LRSDs four year old program for the 1998-99 school year. The process that the district followed to arrive at the recommendation that was initially sent to you was: The Director of Early Childhood Education sent a memofeking what process was used for releasing the reserved seats under the revised Desegregation and Education Plan. She also asked that the issue be addressed as early as possible so that we could expedite the process and provide children 'with the opportunity to participate in the program at an earlier date. In addition, the director made a recommendation for releasing the seats. tn the past year (97-98) the request for a blanket release of reserved seats has been handled by the districts attorneys, after receiving the necessary information from student assignment, such as the number of seats available and the recruitment efforts of the district. The beginning of this process was initiated in late August. The time required for the filing process, a decision, and implementation of that decision resulted in a delay of children being able to participate in the program. It is the districts goal to streamline this process in an attempt to fill the vacancies in an appropriate manner while holding sufficient seats for new patrons and to help further racial balance. The proposal used 32 for the number of seats to be reserved for children moving into the district. This number was based on an approximation of the vacancies that existed in schools which had openings after releasing 50% of the reserved seats in all classes that had vacancies as of May 5, 1998. Please remember that this number will change on an ongoingLRSD SLIPTS OFFICE 925 P03 MAY 28 98 13:24 basis as children are assigned to the program from now until the end of June. The reasoning behind selecting the day after Labor Day and Octobei 1 as the days for releasing the reserved seats was
Jays tne reserveo was. The district usually has a number of children who wait until b. after Labor Day to register. The October 1 date is the official date that the district uses for student counts. r e The (istrict has no problem with releasing the seats at earlier dates and has r lade some adjustments in this area. The district expects these changes to provide the benefits of the program to more children, quickly. Now, seats in an effort to expedite and standardize the process for releasing the district is proposing the following procedures and timelines: 1. 2. Initial enrollment for the four year old program will be in January/Parents may enroll at the student assignment office or at th^ir attendance zone school. Notification of assignments to the four year old program will be mailed to parents in April. 3. Registration for the four year old program will reopen and parents may register at the student assignment office. 4.. After initial assignments are made, there will be-a monthly assessment to see where the vacancies exist in four year old classes and assignments made accordingly. 5. During the months of May and June, recruitment efforts will be made by parent recruiters in the student assignment office to frlfthe vacancies that exist. 6, 1. After recruitment efforts have been made, at the end of June, classrooms that have vacancies will release 50% of their vacancies to students who are on the waiting list. The remaining seats will be reserved to help^reat^ desegregated program. On September 1, all remaining vacant seats will be released and will be filled from the waiting list. ScA.Mi/5C<a Needless to say no system is perfect
however, these procedures will , provide guidelines with time frames that can be consistently aoclied every year. The district intends to closely monitor the procedures to see if "further changes will be necessary or advisable. I yiAjti,LRSD SUPTS OFFICE 927 P01 MAY 28 98 15:58 Date: To: From: Telephone No.: MESSAGE: LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT 810 WEST MARKHAM LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72201 FAXNUMBER: (501)324-2146 SUPERlNTENDENrS OFFICE c Number of Eases Sent -3 To FxAK Phone Number -0 fO 0 LRSD SUPTS OFFICE LKou oinrr uc.vc.i.urric.i'i i rciA'QVA~..>..sujvo riciy zo 927 PQ2 MAY 28 98 15:57 r- 50 LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT TO: FROM: Dr. Les Carnine, Superintendent Pat Price, Director of Early Childhood Education DATE: May 28,1998 SUBJECT: Response to Ann Browns Memo of May 22. 1998 Thank you for your suggestions regarding the memo of May 15,1998, addressing the release of reserved seats in the LRSDs four-year-old program for the 1998-99 schoc! year. The process that the district foilowed to arrive at the recommendation that was initially sent to you was: . The Director of Early Childhood Education sent a memo asking what process was used for releasing the reserved seats under the revised Desegregation and Education Plan. She also asked that the issue be addressed as early as possible so that we could expedite the process and provide chiidren witn the opportunity to participate in the program at an earlier date, in addition, the director made a recommendation for releasing the seats. Durinq the past three years the request for a blanket release of reserved seats has been handled by th districts attorneys, after receiving the necessary information from student assignment, such as the number of seats available and the recruitment efforts of the district. The ........... July by the Student Assignment Office and filed process was Initiated in July by the Student Assignment unice duu with the court in August. The time required for the filing process, a decision and implementation of that decision resulted in a delay of klCwlw'-wl I > Ml *W ._ I /I, chiidren being able to participate in the program. (X Traditionally two-thirds of at! four-year-oid applications are requesied for African American students. This results in a large number of these students being placed on waiting lists, while seats resented for nonAfrican American students remain vacant. It is the district s goal to streamiins this process in an attempt to fill the vacancies in an appropriate manner while holding sufficient seats for new patrons and to help further racial balance and close the disparity. The prcposal used 32 for the number of seats to be reserved for children moving Into the district. This number was based on an approximation of th vacancies that existed in schools which had openings after releasing 50% of the reserved seats in all classes that had vacancies as of May 5, 1998. Please remember that this number will change on an ongoingLRSD SUPTS OFFICE LRSD STAFF LtVtLUHMtNI FaxibUi-oz^-Loue Ilciy zo 927 P03 MAY
8 98 15:5? basis as children are June. assigned to the program from now until the end of The reasoning behind selecting the day after Labor Day and October 1 as the davs for releasing foe reserved seats was: The district usually has a number of children who wait until a. b. after Labor Day to register. October 1 is foe date that the district reports fog gfficial student counts to the Arkansas Department of Education. The district has no problem with releasing foe has made some adjustments in this area. The distr.ct . i changes to provide foe benefits of the program to more children, quicKly. Now. in an effort to expedite and standardize the foj '^^^asing seats, the district is proposing the following procedures and timelines. 1, 2. 3. Initial enrollment for the four-year-old program will be during( foe districts regular registration period. Parents may enrc.l at the Student assignment office or at their attendance zone school, if applicable. Notification of assignments to ths four-year-oid program will be mailed to parents in April. Registration for the four-year-old program will reofer. and parents may register at foe student assignment office. 4.. After initial assignments are made, there will be a monthly assessment to see where foe vacancies exist m fou^ear-old classes and assignments will be made accordingly. 5. During the months of May and June recruitment ^ll be made by parent recruiters in the student assignment office to fs-l the vacancies that exist. 8. After recruitment efforts have been made, at Classrooms foat have vacancies will reiease^but^of foe^r vacancies to students who are on the waiting nst. the remaining seats will be reserved to help create a desegregated program. 7. On September 1, all remaining vacant seats will be released and will be filled from foe waiting list. Needless to say no system is perfect
however, these procedures wl.l provide guidelines with time frames foat can be consistently applied every year. The district intends to closely monitor foe procedures to see if further changes will be necessary or advisable.* Office of Desegregation Monitoring United States District Court Eastern District of Arkansas Ann S. Brown, Federal Monitor 201 East Markham, Suite 510 Heritage West Building Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501) 376-6200 Fax (501) 371-0100 Date: June 3, 1998 To: Les Carnine line X From: Ann Bro Re: District Guidelines for Releasing Four-Year-Old Seats Thanks for the fax you gave me today, which contained Pat Prices updated guidelines for releasing four-year-old seats. The guidelines look fine to me. Good job!J_RSD STAFF DEOELOPMENT Fax:501-324-0508 Jun 3 98 11:03 p.02 MjtlTTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT TO
Les Carnine, Superintendent FROM: /Pat Pat Price, Director of Early Childhood Education DATE: June 3, 1998 SUBJECT: Response to Ann Browns Memo of May 28. 1998 The suggestions that Ms. Brown has made can be easily addressed
and if these suggestionswill help head off. confusion or problems, then I recommend all of the underlined changes be made. The process that the district followed to arrive at the recommendation that was initially sent to you was
The Director of Early Childhood Education sent a memo asking what process was used for releasing the reserved seats under the revised Desegregation and Education Plan. She also asked that the issue be addressed as early as possible so that the district could expedite tfie process and provide children with the opportunity to participate in the program at an earlier date. In addition, the director made a recommendation for releasing the seats. During the past three years the request for a blanket release of reserved seats has been handled by the districts attorneys, after receiving the necessary information from student assignment, such as the number of seats available and the recruitment efforts of the district. The process was initiated in July by the Student Assignment Office and filed with the court in August or September. The time required for the filing process, a decision, and implementation of that decision resulted in a delay of children being able to participate in the program. Traditionally two-thirds of all four-year-old applications are requested for African American students. This results in a large number of these students being placed on waiting lists, while seats reserved for nonAfrican American students remain vacant. It is the districts goal to streamline this process in an attempt to fill the vacancies in an appropriate manner while holding sufficient seats for new patrons and to help further racial balance and close the disparity in academic achievement between the races...LRSD STAFF DEUELOPMENT Fax:501-324-0508 Jun 3 98 11:04 p.03 The proposal used 32 for the number of seats to be reserved for children moving into the district. This number was based on an approximation of the vacancies that existed in schools which had openings after releasing 50% of the reserved seats in all classes that had vacancies as of May 5, 1998. Please remember that this number will change on an ongoing basis as children are assigned to the program from now until the end of June. The reasoning behind selecting the day after Labor Day and October 1 as the days for releasing the reserved seats was: a. The district usually has a number of children who wait until after Labor Day to register. b. October 1 enrollment is the official student count that the district reports to the Arkansas Department of Education. The district has no problem with releasing the seats at earlier dates and has made some adjustments in this area. The district expects these changes to provide the benefits of the program to more children, quickly. Now, in an effort to expedite and standardize the process for releasing seats that are reserved to promote racially balanced enrollment, the district is proposing the followng procedures and timelines
1. Initial enrollment for the four-year-old program will be during the districts regular registration period. Parents may enroll at the student assignment office or at their attendance zone school, if applicable. 2. Notification of assignments to the four-year-old program will be mailed to parents in April. 3. Registration for the four-year-old program will reopen and parents may register at the student assignment office. 4.. After initial assignments are made, Student Assignment will do a monthly assessment to see where the vacancies exist in four-year- old classes and assignments will be made accordingly, 5. During the months of May and June, recruitment efforts will be made by parent recruiters in the student assignment office to racially balance the vacancies that exist.^LRSD STAFF DEVELOPMENT Fax:501-324-0508 Jun 3 98 11:04 p.04 6. 7. After recruitment efforts have been made, at the end of June, classrooms that have vacancies will release ail but two of their vacancies to students who are on the waiting list. The remaining seats will be reserved to help create a desegregated program. These seats may or may not exist at the end of June, and it is true that two is an arbitrary number
however, in an effort to help attain the goal to promote a racially balanced enrollment, the district feels that this is a reasonable request to reserve a minimum of two seats in every classroom that has vacancies, During the second week of school, all remaining vacant seats will be released and will be filled from the waiting list. Needless to say no system is perfect
however, these procedures will provide guidelines with time frames that can be consistently applied every year. The district intends to closely monitor the procedures to see if further changes will be necessary or advisable., .LRSD STAFF DEyELOPMENT Fax:501-324-0508 Jun 3 98 11:03 P. 01 LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE CENTER 3001 S PULASKI LITTLE ROCK, AR 72206 FAX (501) 324-0508 DATE TO FROM ir 4 . SENDERS PHONE NO. 3^ V - SUBJECT Special Instructions Number of pages (include cover page) -S: FAX Phone Number Transmitted By C^^-, TrC5? Z Date Time ///>,< 09/17/1999 15:15 501-324-2023 LRSD COMMUNICATIONS C! ' PAGE 02/02 810 West Markham UttleRock, AR 72201 sevann@Irsdadm.lrsd.k12.ar.us For Immediate Release September 17,1999 For more information
Pat Price, 324-0517 Suellen Vann, 324-2020 / New Pre-Kindergarten and Head Start Classes to Open Children who are 4-years-old may apply to attend one of two new pre-kindergarten classes that will open at Wakefield Elementary School. The new classes represent a collaboration between the Little Rock School District (LRSD) and Head Start, according to LRSD Early Childhood Director Pat Price. Were pleased to welcome these 4-year-old children into the Wakefield program, Price said. This early start in their education will help these children succeed as they progress through elementary school. Parents may apply September 20-24,1999, by completing an application at the LRSD Student Registration Office, 501 Sherman Street. At that time parents should provide an original birth certificate for the child
proof of address (utility bill, lease agreement, etc.)
the childs Social Security number
and. only if interested in Head Start services, proof of income. Price said the partnership between Wakefield and Head Start will provide better service to families in Southwest Little Rock. Head Start services include health, vision and hearing screening
dental screenings and follow-up visits to the dentist
nutritional and developmental assessments
services for children with special needs
and connections to community resources and family advocates. Date: July 26, 2000 To: Melissa From: Annj^ Re: New LRSD Four-Year-Old Sites Please contact Pat Price, asking her for the written criteria the district used to determine the placement of the three new four-year-old programs for the coming school year, as described in the July board agenda. Also, Id like an updated list of where all the four-year-old programs will operate next year, noting the number of classes at each school. Further, are these programs being funded on one-time or short-term money? Whats the districts plan for long-term funding to keep all of them up and running? The agenda item references adding a four-year-old program at Pulaski Heights Elementary in 2001-02, when space will be available. Since the proposal cites that space isnt available for the upcoming school year, find out whats going to change at the school to enable the addition of a program there. Thanks.I { ( ( Participants r Career-Tech Coordinators Coaching Staffs Secondary Content Teachers PRESCHOOL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT JULY AND AUGUST. 2001 Date Time Location Topic 1 Department G a G cr G G I July 20, 10:00-12:30 Metropolilan Principals, Directors, Counselors, Asst. Principals, Asst. Principals, Asst. Supt., Assoc. Supt. Middle/Senior High Department Chairs Career-Technical Ed ALL NEW TEACHERS 2001 July 30. 2001 Aug. 3, 2001 Aug. 6, 2001 8:30-12:00 8:30-4:00 10:00-12:00 Board Room J. A, Fair Peabody Hotel NEW Attendance and Elementary Secretaries All NEW Elementary Teachers All NEW Secondary Teachers Secondary and Elementary Teachers (5 years of teaching ________experience________ Elementary School Staffs Aug. 6, 2001 Aug. 6, 2001 Aug. 6, 2001 Aug. 7, 2001 Aug. 8, 2001 Aug, 9-10, 2001 8:30-12:30 8:30- 11:30 1:00-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 Metropolitan IRC IRC Computer Lab IRC IRC IRC 6 Grade Math Teachers b" Grade Science Teachers 7* Grade Science Teachers Aug. 13- 14,2001 Aug. 13- 14,2001 Aug. 13, 2001 Aug. 13, 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 Individual Elementary Schools Parkview Hall - Room 702 Hall - Room 701 1 Internships, Apprenticeships/J AG_ Coaches Orientation and Workshop ADE Content Workshop Advanced Placement Institute Career-Tech 324-4043 Johnny Johnson 324-2427 Gifted Program 324-2197 Gifted Program 324-2197 G LC (J cs I to hO I K) to Professional Development Planning for 2001-2002 Orientation Student Management ________System_________ Classroom Organizational _________Skills_________ Classroom Organizational _________Skills_______ Pathwisc Mentoring Training Elementary Building Leve ________Inservices_______ Module Training Bits A Pieces II New Science Curriculum Assessment/S A LI Career-Tech 324-4043 Pro. Dev. 324-0500 Mattie Ruth Tipton Pro. Dev. 324-0500 Pro. Dev. 324-0500 Pro, Dev, 324-0500 to register Individual Schools Math Dept, 324-0520 Science 324-0518 Science 7/30/01 w o co < Ci m tn "D J> CD hO( ( ( I I Participants 7 & 8 Grade Math Teachers 8 Grade Science Teachers All Middle School English & Resource English Teachers All Middle and High School Foreign Language Teachers Middle and High School Band, Choir, and Orchestra Teachers Middle and High School Drama/St^eech Teachers Middle and High School Dance __________Teachers_________ Middle and High School Visual _______Arts Teachers_________ Secondary Librarians Secondary Library Secretaries 9-12 Grade Math Teachers All High School English & Resource English Teachers PRESCHOOL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT JULY AND AUGUST, 2001 Date Time Location Topic department G 0 G O K G G 2001 Aug. 13- 14,2001 Aug. 13, 2001 Aug. 13- 14.2001 Aug. 13- 14,2001 Aug. 13- 14,2001 Aug. 13- 14,2001 Aug. 13- 14, 2001 Aug. 13- 14.2001 Aug. 13- 14,2001 Aug. 13- 14,2001 Aug. 13- 14,2001 Aug. 13- 14,2001 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30 - 3:30 8:30 - 3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 Parkview Hall - Room 701 Cafeteria & Auditorium J. A. Fair Media Center J. A. Fair Parkview J, A. Fair Park view Metropolitan Library Central High Library Central High Park view Media Center Hall 2 Module Training Comparing and Scaling Assessment/lEY Refreshing the Curriculum Pacing the Curriculum and Materials Essential Elements of the Music Classroom Speech/Drama Workshop Dance Workshop Visual Arts Workshop Applications of Library Technology New Technologies for Secondary Libraries Standards-Based Lessons Six Traits of Writing Rubrics & Assessment 324-0518 Math Dept. 324-0520 Science 324-0518 English DepL Barbara Brandon 324-0510 English & For. Lang. Dept. 324-0510 Fine Arts Fine Arts Fine Arts Fine Arts Q l a G H I U I K K tJ Instructional Tech. 324-0577 Instructional Tech. 324-0577 Math Dept. 324-0520 Eng. Dept' 324-0510 7/30/01 to a I o p cn m c o m U) "D m cs to! ( f ( PRESCHOOL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT JULY AND AUeUST, 2001 ( ( I Participants Date Time Location Topic Department IS 00 cs cn hO CD cs> All High School Journalism Teachers__________ 9-12 Grade Science Teachers Career-Tech Teachers High School Counselors Indirect, HI, VI Teachers Early Literacy Teachers (Success for All Schools) 6"* Grade Science Teachers ?" Grade Science Teachers 8*' Grade Science Teachers Aug. 13- 14,2001 Aug. 13, 2001 Aug. 13, 2001_ Aug. 13, 2001 Aug. 13, 2001 Aug. 14, 2001 Aug. 14, 2001 Aug. 14, 2001 Aug. 14, 2001 8:30-3.30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-4:00 1:00-3:00 8:30-12:00 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 9-12 Grade Science Teachers Middle School Counselors Career-Tech Teachers Aug. 14, 2001 8:30-3:30 journalism Rm. Hall Parkview Greater Second Baptist Church Board Room Annex Conference ______Room IRC Hall - Room 702 Hall-Room 701 Hall - Room 701 Parkview Quality of Journalism Collaborative Learning and ______Pacing Guides_____ Curriculum Integration Guidance Program Planning____ Indirect Teachers Early Literacy Assessment Issues New Issues in SALl Training - lEY Aug. 14, 2001 Aug. 14, 2001 8:30-4:00 8:30-3:30 Board Room Greater Second Baptist Church Student Research Seminar, Textbooks and Other _______Topics_________ Guidance Program Planning________ Developing Guidelines for Collecting Required Student Data and Follow- up Policies_ 3 Eng. Dept. 324-0510 Science 324-0518 Career-Tech 324-4043 Pupil Services 324-2162 G. Smith 324-2177 BCE Dept. 324-0526 Science 324-0SI8 Science 324-0518 Science 324-0518 Science 324-0518 Pupil Services 324-2162 Career-Tech 324-4043 7/30/01 CD A UD UI CD I GJ A I bo bO to O) o I o o 01 m 7) < o m 01 T) Ki oI / / r 1 PRESCHOOL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT JULY AND AUGUST, 2001 ( ( Participants date Time Location Topic department c 0 G o h G G Gifted Program Facilitators Aug. 14, 2001 12:30-3:30 Hall High Gifted Programs for Secondary Students Gifted Program 324-2197 a u Selected Regular Ed Teachers/ SpEd Teachers/Therapists/School Psychology Specialists Above by Invitation Only Sp Ed Para-Pros-Mandatory Middle and High School Staffs ALL Elementary Secretaries and Secondary Bookkeepers Prc-Kindergarlen Teachers Kindergarten Teachers Kindergarten Teachers First Grade Teachers Second Grade Teachers Aug. 14, 2001 Aug. 15- 16,2001 Aug. 15, 2001 Aug. 15, 2001 Aug. 15, 2001 Aug. 15, 2001 Aug. 15, 2001 Aug. 15, 2001 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-10:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-11:30 12:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-11:30 School for the Blind Individual Middle [ and High Schools Metropolitan North Little Rock East Campus 2400 Lakeview Rd. Western Hills Western Hills Washington Chicot Autism Middle and High School Building Level Inservices Purchasing and Activity Funds Strategies for Improving Behavior for Young ________Children________ Introducing the New Social Studies Curriculum Integrating Social Studies into the Literacy Block Math Investigation Training Integrating Social Studies into the Literacy Block 4 K. Burnette G. Smith 324-2177 Individual Schools Gail Hester Linda Shiflett ECEZLiteracy 324-0517 Social Studies 324- 0514 ECE/Literacy 324-0517 Math 324-0520 ECE/Literacy 324-0517 7/30/01 u G J a N 1 h
K (n o I o o to m X < a m (0 -0 Q m o cnr I ( ( PRESCHOOL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT JULY AND AUGUST, 2001 { I \ G a G Participants Dote Time Location Topic Deportment (S Second Grade Teachers Third Grade Teachers ______Group A Third Grade Teachers ______Group B_______ Third Grade Teachers Group A_ Third Grade Teachers ______Group B______ Fourth Grade Teachers Aug. 15, 2001 Aug. 15, 2001 Aug. 15. 2001 Aug. 15. 2001 Aug. 15, 2001 Aug. 15, 2001 12:30-3:30 8:30-11:30 8:30-11:30 12:30-3:30 12:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 Chicot Washington Metropolitan Metropolitan Washington Fifth Grade Teachers Reading Recovery Teachers Elementary Music Teachers Elementary Visual Arts Teachers Gifted Program Specialists PreK Instructional Aides Aug. 15, 2001 Aug. 15- 16,2001 Aug. 15- 16,2001 Aug. 15- 16,2001 Aug. 15- 16.2001 Aug. IS, 8.30 - 3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 AR Slate Police Hdqtrs. - I Stale Police Plaza Dr. G. Springs Rd. Classroom C Metropolitan Activity Center IRC M. L. King M. L. King Williams Magnet M. L. King 5 Introducing the New Social Studies Curriculum Math Investigation Training Inquiry Learning and STC Training_______ Inquiry Learning and STC Training Math Investigation ______Training Writing in Fourth Grade Introducing the New Social Studies Curriculum Standards & Guidelines in Early Literacy Groups Curriculum Frameworks Orff Workshop Macmillan/Scolt Foresman Presentation Visual Arts Workshop Gifted Programming at Its _______Best___________ Managing People Skills Social Studies 324-0514 Math 324-0520 Science 324-0518 Science 324-0518 Math 324-0520 ECE/Literacy 324-0517 Social Studies 324-0514 ECE/Literacy 324-0517 Fine Arts Fine Arts Gifted Program 324-2197 ECE/Literacy 7/30/01 (S cn Gl H* I co to 1 hO ro to cn o I o o < o m to "D O m cs 03( (. f { I Participants Para-Professionals Speech Pathologists Occupalional/Physical Therapists Mandatory Elementary Librarians Elementary Library Secretaries Computer Lab Attendants Instructional Aides (Grades K - 5 Only) Pre-Kindergarten Teachers ALL Kindergarten Teachers First Grade Teachers First Grade Teachers PRESCHOOL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT JULY AND AUGUST, 2001 Dote Time Location Topic Deportment . Q a G cr G G 2001 Aug. 15, 2001 Aug. 15, 2001 Aug, 15, 2001 Aug. 15- 16, 2001 Aug. 15- 16,2001 Aug. 15- 16, 2001 Aug. 15- 16,2001 Aug. 16, 2001 Aug. 16, 2001 Aug. 16, 2001 Aug. 16, 2001 8:00-3:30 8:00-12:00 1:00-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-3:30 8:30-11:30 12:30-3:30 L J. A, Fair Auditorium Board Room M. L. King Elem. Media Center Booker Magnet Booker Magnet Carver Computer Lab Washington Media Center M. L. King Washington Western Hills Western Hills 6 Para-Professional Issues Speech Pallwlogisls Occupational/Physical Therapists Applications of Library Technology Whats New for Elementary Libraries Hands-On Software Learning to Cope with Differences ECERS & Licensing Requirements Math Investigation Training Introducing the New Social Studies Curriculum 324-0517 G. Smith 324-2177 C. Steele 324-2196 M. Clevenger 324-2180 Instructional Tech. 324-0577 Instructional Tech. 324-0577 Instructional Tech. 324-0577 Pro. Dev. 324-0500 ECE/Literacy 324-0517 Moth 324-0520 Social Studies 324-0514 Integrating Social Studies j Early Childhood into the Literacy Block Elementary Literacy 7/30/01 G tX cn G I CO to I to to co CO o I o p (n m < o m co T m CDMotion September 2, 1997 August 1, 1996 1^0 Order September 8, 1997 Aug. 27, 1996 August 16, 1995 September 7, 1995 August 25, 1994 September 7, 1994 1988-89 Classes 1 I Capacity 20 1989-90 Classes 1 Capacity 1990-91 Classes Capacity 1991-92 Classes Capacity 1992-93 Classes Capacity 1993-94 C 20 1 20 1 18 1 18 Classes Capacity 1994-95 C Classes Capacity 1995-96 c Classes Capacity 1996-97 C Classes Capacity 1997-98 C Classes Capacity 1998-99 C Classes Capacity 1999-2000 C Classes Capacity 2000-2001 C Classes Capacity LRSD FOUR-YEAR-OLD SITES AND CAPACITIES 8 IL w c 3 60 3 60 3 60 3 54 3 54 3 54 c C 31 541 C 3 54 /JC 3! 54i [c 54i 3 54
c 3! 54 2 36 2 J_iL i ts a D JQ. D C 1 20 1 3 2 20 60 40 I 1 3 2 1 1 20 60 40 20 20 18 18 ll 18' I T 3I 541 3 2 1 54 36 18 18 3 2 1 1 54 36 18 18 3 2 1 54 36 18 181 4 3 2 1 72 54 36 18 4 3 72 54 2 36! 1 18 4 3 12y 54 2i 36! 1' 4| 4- 31 i 2! 11 721 I 4l 22 4? 72! 3! 54' 541 3^ 18i Z 3 iT 54 18 1 3 54 3 c e 3= 2 i <0 A s o lA O) _C o M i S .c M A 2 JB. 1 g <0 I 1 1 1 1 18 18 18 18 1 18 1 18 181 1 18 1 1 1 1 18 18 18 18 1 2 1 1 18 36 18 18 1 2 2 2 18 36 36 36 1 2 2 2 18 36 36 36 Si. c 5 X i o I 0 X z E SI lA e- - to I e i <2 I s Si. o c o e t 3 1 I o u o 5 100 T I I T T 1 1 1 10 200 18 18 18 18 3 1 1 1 54 18 18 18 3 54 2 36 Z 2 2 1 36 36 18 2 2 1 36 36 18 I I 2| 36? ..2
, 361 2i 36l 1 1 18 18 1 1 18 18 li 2! + isi sei T 1 18 2 4 1 36 72 18 2 36 I I I I. 12 240 16 288 21 I 4 I T T I T 72 18| -----1 i I T T 378 28 504 40 _2L 18 1. 18 C _ [C^_ 54' I I I T 720 40 Zill- 181 Z I . -j 18 Z 11 181 18i 1' 18 Z I I I 720 1! 18l 2 2 1 18 2 36 2 36 2 36! 36 36 2 36| 2 36! 36, 2 1 2 2 2 2 36 36 36 2! 36l 2 36 2 2 2 2 2 36 36 36 36| 36 36 18 36 18i 2 II 2! 36 18: 361 2 11 2i 36 18 2 36 2! 36"^ 2\ 361 _2i 361 2' 36, 2 36! -A 36' 2 36 2i 361 3. 36! Z* s Operating program __2- 36' il 21 18 1' 36^ 18 2! ll 2i 1 36
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I A 36! 1 1 1 18: 18 18! 18 1i 18| 1, 181 if 18' 51 918DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1992 7B LRSD plans to seat 648 4-year-olds by 94 BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democral-Gazelte Stall Writer The Little Rock School District has developed a long- range plan to expand its early- childhood education program for 4-year-olds from 378 seats next year to 648 seats by 1994- 95. The expansion would more than double the programs cost, from $502,973 in 1993-94 to $1.3 million in 1994-95. This years cost was $204,356. The district submitted the proposal to U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright late Monday. Wright asked last month for details on how the district would comply with the early-childhood component of its court-approved desegregation plan. The program is meant to expose disadvantaged children to educational experiences and to improve the racial balances at hard-to-desegre- gate schools. In a May 1 court order, Wright said the district must design a program that will accommodate as many children as would be served if all 36 elementary schools in the district operated a 4-year-old program. The district determined that number would be 648 pupils. In selecting sites for an additional 270 seats in 15 classrooms by 1994-95, district officials said priority would be given to sections of the city with a high concentration of children from low-income families and where school attendance zones are more than 55 percent black. As a result of the criteria, 17 of the 36 elementary schools ineligible to house the are early-childhood programs. The district identified Southwest Little Rock, the around John Barrow area 'Road, and east and central Little Rock as areas in greatest need of the early-childhood programs. The proposal calls for: Si.xteen schools to house early-childhood programs in 1992-93, compared with 11 this year. Opening early-childhood classes at Baseline Elementary and Chicot Elementary in 1993-94. Space would have to be created for the room at Chicot. In addition, an early-childhood center with five or six classes would be opened. Opening two early-childhood classes at the new King Elementary in 1994-95. In addition, another center housing six classes would be opened.Arkansas DemocratW'(5azelle FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 1992 Critic is not impartial, teaches tennis for tots 5 In her May 23 Voices letter about the Little Rock School Districts Super Summer Enrichment Program, Lisa Gray suggested, without explaining what she meant, that my opinions on education are biased. From the letter, which wa.s replete with ad hominem insults but absent rebuttal of my column or documentation other expertise, and from the conversation that inspired her tirade, I deduced that it might be Lisa who had the bias. The way she signed the letter indicated strongly that she was not the impartial critic she presented herself to be. The letter carried her name, the notation Tennis for Tots and an address and telephone number. My curiosity aroused, I called the number. The person who answered said, Tennis for 'Tots. What do you do there? I asked. We teach tenni.s to children, the voice said. Aha! When I asked additional questions about the enterprise, the woman on the other end of the line asked who I was. Apparently she recognized my name. In any event, she wouldnt talk any more. I left word for Lisa. While I was wailing for Lisa to return the call, I called upon : I rDEAR READER John R. Starr i my not often used but still considerable reportorial skills to do some checking. Tennis for Tots was not in please me, but because her busi- the latest Little Rock phone book, nor did directory assistance have such a listing, and the address Lisa gave was listed in the latest city directory as a private residence. A call to Arma Hart, the LRSD official responsible for psychology and almost an M.A. the Super Summer Enrichment in special education. Program, revealed that Lisa had talked with her about the possi- bility of teaching some of the young children aren't as good as proposed tennis courses. Lisa had accused me of bias. I had caught her in what ap- peared to me, in light of her call mentary and early childhood ed- to me, to be a cold-blooded conflict of interest. When Lisa returned my call, she confessed to being a tennis teacher. She confirmed that she her intelligence. had talked with Hart, but not, she said, until after she had talked with me. She said Tennis for Tots was a business, incorporated in another state, that she had owned for a number of years. Do you have a city privilege license? I asked. She said she didnt ha .-e one. Does that bother you?she asked. 1 said it did, and she said that if it bothered me, she would get a privilege license. Since her intentions seemed to be good, 1 passed up the chance to snidely suggest that she should get the license not to ness was most likely illegal without it. Lisa said she is 32, that she grew up in Hot Springs and that she has lived in and out of Arkansas during the last 11 years. She has a degree in child Sounds to me as if her qualifications to judge whats good for my wifes, whose expertise she debunked in her letter. My wife carried a double major of eleucation. In closing, because Lisa called me ignorant, stupid and foolish, I would like to assess Shes smart, but like almost everybody else, including me, shes not as smart as she thinks she is. Mniiiif'iiig Editor .lotin It. Stnrr's col II III II appears every day. .1^1Z'loCCPanel looks at age cutoff for schooling. Bill would move date from Oct. 1 to Sept. 1 j BY LINDA SATTER ? Democral-GazeKe Staff Writer 1 Questions about when chil- dren should enter kindergarten i and first grade dominated the' discussion in the Senate Edu- . cation Committee on Friday, j The topic was a bill by Rep. Greg Wren of Conway that would move the date by which children must be 5 years old to start kindergarten and 6 years old to start first grade. Wrens House Bill 2125 would require children to be 5 or 6 years old by Sept. 1 of the year of enrollment to get into kindergarten and first grade, respectively. Children now must be 5 or 6 by Oct. 1 of the year of enrollment, so the bill would cause
some children to wait another year. An amendment to the bill, however, would allow students who hadnt reached the age of 5 by Sept. 1 to enter kindergarten with parental approval and permission of the local school district. The same would be true for children not yet 6 years old seeking enrollment in first grade. Both provisions would take effect in the 1994-95 school i year. When voted as- amended, the bill failed, biitjhe vote was expunged so the matter could f be brought up again before the legislative session ends. We all know someone whos been put in school too early and theyve been held back, Wren told the committee. He added that the national trend is to go i back to July 1. Dr. Burton Elliott, director of the state Department of Education, said: I think were putting a big burden on schools to make these determinations. There is a lot of subjective information that has to go into this. Elliott also noted that basically, everyone supports the idea that youngsters will do better in school if theyre a little older. Committee members also discussed whether many parents, thinking their children to be exSee SCHOOL, Page 3B Arkansas Democrat W gazette SATURDAY. APRILS, 1993 Copyright O 1993. LiWe Rock Newspapers. Inc. I School Continued from Page 1B ceptionally bright, would be inclined to push their children into school prematurely. ,.7 Sen. Stanley Russ of Conway noted that study after study shows that when you push a gifted and talented child ...-you are raising the probability that child is going to encounter problems later on. ... Mttny . well-intentioned parents and educators are pushing chilcken into school too young. Sen. Bill Lewellen of Marianna disagreed, asserting, I think in 99 percent of cases we make the best decisions for our children. He favored the bill^as amended. Sen. George Hopkins*of Malvern said, If weve had it for 30 years and its not.ab- solutely broken. Im in favor of leaving it like it is.a Arkansas Democrat (gazette THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993 Copyrfohl e 1993. LHUe Rock Newsoepen. Inc. Stange tor scfiboltos^Tta&nS Democrat-Gazette Capitol Bureau that ... Legislation that would i!!! thday cutoff for children attending kindergarten and the first grade was House Bill 2125 by Rep. Greg would have moved the birthdate requirement for those students fmm fw" 1 t q""? Students from Oct. 1 to Sept 1 of each year. hn '^^dren must be 5 . .
iiiusi oe 0 anH to enter kindergarten tJ rationale for system that works right. Let s not fix something thats not broke, said Sen. Bill Lewellen of Marianna. Sen. Stanley Russ of Conway, who carried the bill in the Senate contendd that studies show that students meeting a Sept 1 cutoff are ready for school. Before defeating the bill, Sen. J erry J ewell of Little Rock unsuccessfully attempted to amend it to allow school districts to decide whether a child raching the applicable age after the cutoff date was ready to attend school. * Senate rejected a bill that would allow some medical records to be released without the patients con- sent. Senate Bill 648 by Sen. Bill Walters of Greenwood would define when a health-care provider could release medical records without permission irom the patient. were has already been approved by both the Senate and House. The bill was returned to the Senate to consider three amendments - two of which deal with patient records. All three House amendments rejected by the Senate. My advice to you is if you don t want your confidential medical records floating w said Sen Wayne Dowd of Texarkana Also Wednesday, the Senate defeated a House amendmen to Senate Bill 260, which woulc have eliminated the printins clerks division in the state ditor s offices. au Senate Bill 260 is the annual appropriation bill for the state auditor s office. The printing clerks division has three Ployees and a $130,000 annual em to Rep. Jodie Mahony of El Do- numerous times in the Joint Budget Committee to delete the reference to the printing clerks office Mahony has contended that office IS unnecessary because he claims the function is duplicated by other state agencies.Arkansas Democrat (fjazettc SUNDAY, JUNE 13,1993 Copyright O 1993, Little Rock Newspapers, Inc. 1 Registration is continuing for the Little Rock School Districts Early Childhood Education programs. Parents.may register their children weekdays through June 25 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the district student assignment office, 501 Sherman St. The early childhood pro- i lie Cdiijf vuuuuvvu v gram for 4-year-olds is avail- I able in five new locations for 1993-94: Baseline Elementary, 3623 Base Line Road. Brady Elementary, 7915 W. Markham St. Chicot Elementary, 11100 Chicot Road. Fair Park Elementary, 616 N. Harrison St. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, 907 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Selections will be made by lottery whenever the number of applicants for the program exceeds available seats. Enrollment preference is given to children who live within the schools attendance zone | and/or who have siblings enrolled at the school. Parents may register their child by providing a birth certificate and verification of address (a current utility statement, lease agreement or personal property tax bill). Programs for 4-year-old children are also available at Bad- I gett. Bale, Cloverdale, Franklin, Garland, Geyer j Springs, Ish, Mitchell, Rightsell, Rockefeller, Romine, Stephens, Washington, Watson, Wilson and Woodruff elementary schools. ! I 1SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5.1993 J ATTENTION!!!! PARENTS OF 4-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN Put your four-year-old on the right track for social. ' emotional, physical and academic growth. The Little Rock School District offers parents of four-year-old children a special opportunity to start the learning process in a quality integrated setting - before kindergarten. Seats for white students are available at the following schools: Badgett, Baseline, aoverdale, Romine, Mitchell, Garland, Stephens and Rightsell Efforts will be made to locate your child at the school of your choice. Application to this program does not guarantee placement. Call the LRSD Student Assignment Office at 324-2010 or return the following information to 501 Sherman Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202 before September 15. Please Print and mail to the Student Assignment Office, 501 Sherman St, Little Rock, AR 72202 I I am interested in sending my child to a four-year-old class at--------------------------------- . School.
i Name______ Address Home Phone __ City___ Work Phone Zip I Aricansas Democrat TgrtCiazcttc TUESDAY, APRILS, 1994 LRSD adding classes to early childhood programs BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazeite Education Writer The Little Rock School District will expand its early childhood programs for 4-year-olds in several schools next fall, starting with a new program at an eighth school. Dr. Henry Williams, district superintendent, said one new section of the preschool program will be added at Fair Park, Watson, Geyer Springs, Bale, Woodruff, Badgett and possibly Stephens Incentive elementary schools. Those schools already have one class each of 4-year- olds. An eighth class will be added to Mabelvale Elementary, which has not had an early childhood education class. The additions will give the district 40 preschool classes in 21 of its 36 schools. Pre-registration for the classes will be April 18-29. Parents and guardians can register children in the districts student assignment office at 501 Sherman St., or at any of the 21 schools that have the preschool classes. Children must be 4 years of age on or before Oct. 1,1994 to be eligible for the program. The district started preschools in 1988-89 with three classes in three schools as a way to better prepare children for the upper grades and to improve the racial balance at schools that have been difficult to desegregate. Officials hoped to use the full-day, tuition-free preschool program to entice white families to remain in public schools as their children move through the grades. Each class of 4-year-olds is limited to 18 children and is staffed by a state-certified teacher and an instructional aide. The children also work with the physical education, art and music teachers as well as school counselors. Each class is supposed to have a 50-50 blackwhite balance. If that balance isnt achieved, some seats are left vacant to make it possible for pupils to move in later in tBe year. As of Oct. 1,1993, 58 percent of the children in the program were black and 42 percent were white. The districts preschool enrollment was 492, and the capacity was 576. The capacity will increase to 720 next year in compliance with the desegregation plan. Pat Price, early childhood education coordinator in the dis- tricL said efforts will intensify to recruit children to fill the seats for next year. The 4-year-old program has an annual budget of $1.7 million. which is about $3,500 per child. The Arkansas Better Chance program has granted the IK 0- gram about $183,000. The'ela'ss- es are licensed by the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Children and Family Services. The children are provided with two snacks a day and can participate in the school lunch and breakfast programs. Transportation for 4-year-olds generally is not provided by the district. \ In addition to the schools that are getting new programs, next year, other schools preschool programs are Rockefeller, Ish, Franklin, WasSl'ng- ton. Garland, Mitchell, Righi^Il, Romine, Cloverdale, Wif^hri, Baseline,^rady, Chicot^fi'l King elemehtaries.[ Arkansas Democrat (gazette SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1994 Copyright e Uttio Rock Newspapors. Ine. I Aftansa# Democrat-^azeKWOavM.Qotttclulk GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL Q!na Glover
af Rockefeller Elementary School Tn Little Rock. prepares art supplies for her kindergarten classv Glover is preparing for her fifth year at'tlie school. Kinde^atten or la^ Asses^g childs readiness helps parents make choice BY CHRIS REINOLDS Democrat-Gazette Staff Writer Claudia Smith wasnt sure whether her son would be ready for kindergarten this year because he had problems playing with other children. But Smith said 5-year-old There are advantages and ' lishedi , disadvantages to holding a-' The whole point of kinder-child back. z garten is readiness, McKin- Educators say most chil- ney said, dren need to attend kinder-?'
Smith enrolled her son in a Spencer has made some garten even if they are imma- program for 4-year-oIds l^t ture or developmentally slow-' year, and he has made signif-er than their peers. icant advances. Spencer If a child is: eligible for turned 5 on June 30
' ' leant progress in a pre-kinder- kindergarten, I-believe the -H--e- -h-a--d- -n--o-t- -h-a-d-- p--l-a-y-m---a-t-e-s garten program, and she has child should have those expe- his own age, Smith said. We no intention of keeping him riences. If the child needs to had a very difficult year. But out of his kindergarten class repeat kindergarten* then so he has improved a lot, and we that starts Monday, at Romine . be it said Mary K: McKinney, .hate to go back on the ad- Elementary School ' ' ' nf Him. 1*1a_ ' tinnnao wava maria alt*aaHv Every year thousands of De It, . saxu Kiary, i\- mciuuuvy, uuie lu gu uu aw coordinator of the- state De- vances weve made already." parents in Ar^insas must de- partment of Educations' K-3 -A--r-k-a--n-s-a--s law -s-t-a-t-e-s that Initiative. children who are 5 years old cide whether their children _T_h_e_ K__-3_ I_n_i_ti_a_ti_ve- -p-r-o--g-r-a-m-- o--n- -o--r- -b--e-f-o-r-e Oct. 1 are eligi-are ready to attend kinder- is designed to help remedial ble to attend kindergarten, garten especially, children students ' in kindergarten McKinney said she did not who will not turn* 5 before through third grade before know how the state designat-school starts. : See DECISION, Page 7B Decision Continued from Page 1B ed Oct. 1 as the cutoff date. The date varies from state to state. The older they are, the easier time they have in kindergarten. But we wouldnt recommend holding them back just for that reason, said Glenda Bean, executive director of the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission. Schools are required to provide a full day of kindergarten, but parents can obtain a waiver if they do not want their child to attend. However, if the child will be 6 before Oct. 1, the state requires the child to be enrolled in either kindergarten or first grade. Liz Wright has worked as a kindergarten teacher in the Little Rock School District for 19 years. Wright said it is impor- Early Childhood Association, said that for children who are barely 5, as well as older children, the kindergarten class should fit them developmentally. Kindergarten should not be an abrupt change, Shores said. There should not be a dramatic difference in the kinds of activities from age 4 to 5. Its important for parents to ask if a kindergarten teacher is certified in early childhood rather than elementary teaching. The teacher needs to be able to recognize the childs needs and abilities and support the childs development. Shores said. If the learning plans include a lot of work sheets and paper activities, then a child who is slower developmentally may be better off waiting a yeaf, Shores said. Shores said many kinder^ should not assume children are ready for kindergarten just because they reach the appropriate age. Sometimes it may benefit a younger child to stay at home one more year, Shores said. The world is a learning environment for children of any age, Shores said. All of these learning experiences can occur at the home. It may be to a childs advantage especially for boys or petite children to wait another year before sending them to kindergarten. If parents decide to wait, then the child should attend pre-kindergarten classes to become familiar with the routine, Wright said. Wright said most children dont notice they are behind unless parents make an issue out of it. The way that you (parents) handle things is going to make a big difference, she said. Wright practices positive-.re-inforcement in the classroom to improve a childs self-esteem. She said parents who hav6 a positive attitude toward their child, regardless of their failures, will encourage the child to succeed. ' * I dont use the word ,no more than three times a year,' she said. The child has the opportunity for interaction but is not traumatized. tant that parents investigate garten teachers are under pres-kindergarten before they de- sure to prepare childrett^Toi* cide to delay it for a young first-grade work. child. Parents should visit st-gra The result of this is less of classes during different times of developmentally , appropriate the year and talk to teachers be- learning activities, Shores-i fore their son or daughter is el- said. This is an insidious trend' igible for school, Wright said. Elizabeth F. Shores, publications editor of the Southern over the last couple of decades. Shores warned that parents. Arkansas Democrat '^(gazette J FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1995 LRSD plans physicals for pre-kindergartners Little Rock Rockefeller incentive Fh free physi^fexamiLations Sta^'.SL??nnt Rockefeller Incentive Elemen- month for children who will c ter the districts kindergarten pre-kindergarten August. --------J Elementary, Franklin Incentive Elementary, Garland Incentive Elementary, King Magnet Ele- programs in mentary. Forest Height JuS High and Romine Interdistrict Elementary. en- or Appointments must be made by calling 324-2266 between a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday. The exams will be from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednes- day at the following schools: McClellan Community High, Washington Magnet Elementary, 9 Parents or guardians of children unable to take advantage of the exams should arrange for an exam by a private physician or the Arkansas Department of Health before the school year starts.Arkansag Democrat Tgr (gazette SUNDAY, JULY 9, 2000 Preschool in LR district expanded to add 3 schools ARKANSAS DEMocRAT<iAZETTE {o Children of employees at the d^ 'The Little Rock School District sired school. has recently expanded its tuition- All but six of the districts ele- free preschool program for 4-year- mentary schools will offer the fuil- olds to three more schools
Jeffer- day preschool classes for 4-year son, McDermott and Fulbright ele- olds this year, bringing the total mentaiy schools. who will be served to about 1,000 Regikration for this coming year at children. (Registration for schools the three schools is under way and with established programs was held will conclude Friday. Children must earlier this year.) be 4 years old by Sept 15 to be eligible for the classes, which begin Aug. 21. Schools that do not offer thd classes yet are Pulaski Heights, Parents may apply by complet- Badgett, Williams Magnet, Carver ing an application at the districts Magnet, Booker Magnet and Gibbs Student Registration Office, 501 Magnet elementary schools. Super? Sherman St, which is just west of intendent Les Carnine said Friday the intersection ofEast Capitol Av- he is hopeful that the program can I enue and Interstate 30. be expanded again into the remain? Parents need to provide a copy ing schools as classroom space and of their childs birth certificate, ftmding becomes available. ' proof of address such as a utility Bus service is not provided for ' bill or lease agreement and their preschool children, childs Social Security number. Par- ents who do not wish to reveal the Social Security number will be pro- ' vided an alternative number for their child. I Children who live in the school I attendance zone and have siblings ! attending the school will be admitted first to a schools program. Second priority is given to children who live in the schools attendance zone but do not have older siblings at the school. Third priority is re- ' served for children who live outside the school zone but have siblings at ! the school. Fourth priority is given
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