Kindergarten Assignment FAQ

Information for each student that is submitted during the Kindergarten Controlled Parents' Choice window (January 4, 2023 - February 10, 2023) is recorded on a spreadsheet.  Student data on the spreadsheet is then made anonymous by removing all personal identifiable information.  The anonymous data is then sent to a Consultant, specializing in the Controlled Choice Program, who enters the data into an electronic lottery system (algorithm) that assigns students to buildings based on various factors including:

• space available in the kindergartens of each elementary school
• size and capacity of each kindergarten class
• parents’ choices of schools
• sibling guarantee
• Board of Education’s diversity policy, which includes gender, special education needs/services, language needs/proficiency and socioeconomic factors

The Consultant then sends the assignments to the Family Information Center, who then match the ID numbers to student names, and notify families of the assignments.

No.  Race/ethnicity is not weighted in the algorithm, and is not used in any way to assign students to schools.  This data is still collected during Kindergarten registration purely as a way for the District to know the demographic make-up of their schools.

The assignment program is called “Controlled Parents’ Choice”, which means that a very strong emphasis is put on parents’ choice while assigning students -- NOT that there is a guarantee that parents will receive their top choice(s).  The word “controlled” refers to certain factors being controlled by the algorithm while making assignments.  The factors that are controlled are those included in the Board of Education’s diversity policy:  gender, special education needs/services, language needs/proficiency and socioeconomic factors.  The algorithm ensures that all of the elementary schools are balanced when it comes to these factors (i.e. no school has a disproportionate number of one gender; children with special needs are not all placed at one school, etc.).  We are very pleased that the algorithm has helped us achieve balance that is in compliance with the Board of Education’s diversity policy, while also allowing over 95% of parents to receive one of their top 3 choices. These results were comparable to those for last year.

The electronic algorithm is a much more efficient way of anonymously, scientifically and objectively keeping balance among the five schools with regard to:  space available in the kindergartens of each elementary school, the size of each kindergarten class, parents’ choices of schools, sibling guarantee and the Board of Education’s diversity policy, which includes gender, special education needs/services, language needs/proficiency and socioeconomic factors.  The assignment process also increases the number of parents who receive their 1st choice school, and allows the same number of parents to receive one of their top three choices while at the same time improving the socio-economic balance across our five elementary schools.

Anyone who did not receive their first choice school will be placed on a waiting list for all of their preferred choice schools.  Because we have historically aimed at assigning children to one of their top three choices, those who received their 4th or 5th choice school will be given preference on the waiting list.  You will be contacted immediately by the Family Information Center if a seat at one of your preferred choice schools becomes available for your child.  If you choose to accept the seat being offered, you will be removed from all waiting lists.  If you decline the seat being offered, you will be removed from the waiting list of the school being offered, and remain on the waiting list for your other preferred choice schools.  The waiting list for 2023-2024 registrations dissolves on September 15th – the Friday of the first full week of school.

Appeal procedures can be found on page 6 of the Kindergarten Assignment Manual.  Any parent whose child was assigned during the Formal Kindergarten Registration Period who did not receive her/his preferred school may appeal the assignment if she/he has a compelling reason (e.g. a medical necessity) for the child's assignment to that school.  The appeal must be submitted in writing by May 26, 2023 to:
 
Family Information Center
500 North Street
White Plains, NY 10605
 
familyinformationcenter@wpcsd.k12.ny.us
 
An Appeals Committee (consisting of the district's Health Coordinator, a school principal, and two parents) reviews the materials and makes a recommendation regarding the appeal to the Superintendent of Schools.  The Superintendent then supports or rejects the recommendation.

No.  Parents are only able to submit their school choices during the formal Kindergarten registration period (page 3 of the Kindergarten Assignment Manual).  This is also true for sibling guarantee, which is only a “guarantee” if children are registered during the formal Kindergarten registration period (page 4 of the Kindergarten Assignment Manual).  Late applicants will be added wherever there is room available in the buildings.

School assignments are emailed to parents, using the email addresses they supplied during Kindergarten registration.  All of the assignments are mailed at the same time.

The Family Information Center is not permitted to share personal student information over the phone.  This is for the protection of all students.  There is no way to verify the identity of the person calling the Family Information Center over the phone, and, unfortunately, there have been incidents where the person calling to obtain student information (including Kindergarten assignments) has not been who they claim to be.  Therefore, to ensure the privacy of you and your child, no student information is given to people who call the Family Information Center.

At the time of Kindergarten registration, you will be given an estimated time when to expect to receive your Kindergarten assignment.  If the time frame you have been given has passed, you may call the Family Information Center at 914-422-2038 to request that the email be sent again.

All schools that offer Dual Language will send a notice home regarding an interest meeting, and the formal application process.  This information will be sent to all students at Dual Language schools, regardless of whether or not they expressed interest in Dual Language.  The application process is then handled at the school level.  If your child is attending a school that offers Dual Language, and you would like further information on this process, please contact your child’s school.

The choices submitted during the formal Kindergarten registration process are the choices used during the assignment process.  Once school assignments have been made, it is too late to submit new school choices.