Columbia IB HIgh School-AL no reciprocity (Huntsville, Decatur: real estate, 2009, apartment)

[FLnative51]

Relocating my 11th grade IB student from Florida to Madison. Have been advised even though our home is less than 5 miles from IB Columbia High School, there is no reciprocity between city/county schools, and we MUST live in the district for her to complete her IB program. We are zoned for her to be bused to Bob Jones. AL is not "student education friendly" as FL? As long as a student provides their own transportation, they can live outside a district, with an approved voucher, attend any school. The other AL IB certified school is Decatur, which is 27 miles away. Columbia was recently certified Feb. 2008. How many students are denied the benefit of the IB program because of the lack of cooperation within these educational systems?
My question is: WHY? Taxes? My daughter's 2 1/2 yr. investment into her edcuational plan can not be completed. I have contacted Super of Huntsville and Madison schools, they are on the same page-must attend school in district you reside in. Very difficult to accept.

[Charles]

Not sure if this helps, From the Huntsville City Schools 2008-2009 student handbook, Huntsville City Schools

"The school district shall permit a student attending a school in which the student’s race is in the MAJORITY to attend a school in which the student’s race would then be in the MINORITY. Applications for transfer need to be made in the Office of Pupil Services located at the Merts Center. This transfer grants students eligibility if all other requirements are met."

Huntsville is under the Federal Desegregation Order.

More here:

Are city's schools equal enough? - al.com

Flashpoint » Blog Archive » What is Huntsville waiting for?

[Marc45002]

Originally Posted by Charles

Not sure if this helps, From the Huntsville City Schools 2008-2009 student handbook, Huntsville City Schools

"The school district shall permit a student attending a school in which the student’s race is in the MAJORITY to attend a school in which the student’s race would then be in the MINORITY. Applications for transfer need to be made in the Office of Pupil Services located at the Merts Center. This transfer grants students eligibility if all other requirements are met."

Huntsville is under the Federal Desegregation Order.

More here:

Are city's schools equal enough? - al.com

Flashpoint » Blog Archive » What is Huntsville waiting for?

Charles, your answer isn't going to help the OP very much as her question was about going to a school in a district different than where you live. Your answer covered going to a different school within the same district.

FLNative51, if this is important to you and your daughter, could you perchance look to live in Huntsville City either in Columbia's geographical area or in a location wherein you could take advantage of Charles' "loophole?"

Marc

[Keeper]

FL is not under desegregation order any longer and that is why you can chose the schools. I know in FL years ago you could apply to go to a another school as long as you had a good reason they would grant it, not sure if they have that option here though.

[VMH2507]

I know that I am out of touch with the modern way of doing things, but when my parents wanted me to go to a certain school they made sure we lived in the district for that school. The same was true when I had children. That was always a key determinant of where we chose to live. And that by the way was in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas.

[autobahn]

Why are you living in Madison if you want to go to Huntsville schools? Can you pick another house in Huntsville?

[Marc45002]

Another possibility (if you have already purchased a house in Madison). Rent an inexpensive apartment in Huntsville in the proper school district and "move" one parent and daughter to that address. I imagine you can always use apartment for storage if nothing else.

Marc

[Southlander]

Decatur has an IB program and they are searching for students. Guess your real estate agent forgot to mention that?
Several school systems in this area are under racial court orders (and have been for 35 years). That is one reason they are strict about attending within your district.

[FLnative51]

We have had a Townhouse in Edgewater for 6 yrs. My husband works at Redstone and spends weekends/holidays in FL. My children's father has stopped exercising his visitation for 4 months, thus opening a relocation "window" that we thought was closed without a costly/lengthy court battle. At the time of purchase school districts wasn't a consideration.

With BRAC and families relocating one would think AL school districts would be more flexible. Our IB Advisers here find it difficult to understand why AL IB Program would not have reciprocity with districts. IB Director in NY informed me today:

I am sorry to hear of your daughter's situation. However, IB does not mandate admissions criteria and has no jurisdiction over school enrollment. In the IB publication General Regulations: Diploma Programme, which outlines the relationship and responsibilities of the IB and IB schools, it states:
2.4 Because the IB Organization is not a teaching institution and does not provide teaching services to candidates, the Diploma Programme is implemented and taught by IB World Schools (hereinafter “school(s)”). The schools are private or state entities, all of which are entirely independent from the IB Organization and solely responsible for the implementation and quality of teaching of the Diploma Programme.

2.6 The IB Organization cannot guarantee that a school will remain capable and willing to implement the Diploma Programme. Consequently, the schools bear sole responsibility towards candidates and legal guardians if, for any reason, a school’s authorization to implement the Diploma Programme is withdrawn by the IB Organization or a school decides to terminate its authorization.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have additional questions.
The IB North America Support Desk

International Baccalaureate North America [font=Verdana]475 Riverside Drive, Suite 240 New York, NY 10115
Tel: +1 212 696 4464 x 1 | Fax: +1 212 889 9242 | Web: www.ibo.org/ibna

[VMH2507]

I understand your situation better now, but I still think it is unrealistic of you to blame the local school district for not being able to make a special case for you. As several posters have pointed out part of the problem may be the federal courts who have had the local schools under their thumb for 35 years.
I also know that different states have different ways of handling their school districts. As a case in point Texas where my d-i-l teaches has "independent school district" which may include areas in multiple towns and/or counties. Clear Creek ISD where I lived included League City, Seabrook, Kemah, El Lago and part of Houston and Friendswood. If I had a house in Dickinson I would not expect Clear Creek ISD to allow my child to attend, no matter how compelling my argument. My d-i-l had difficulty understanding the AL concept of different district for Huntsville, Madison city, and Madison county. Georgia where I grew up has Atlanta City schools as well as all the different county school systems - Dekalb, Cobb, Gwinnett etc.