Wake schools reaching parents at State Fair

The district is in the beginning stages of a multi-month campaign to make sure every family with students in the school system know that they now have more input into where their children go to schools, beginning with the 2012-13 academic year.

Unlike previous years, in which her son would be assigned to a school, Winters can now rank her preferences among a list of schools close to her home. The school system will then assign him to a school based on his mother's input.

Winters picked up a flier about the plan when she stopped by the fair booth Thursday.

"I really don't know much about it," she said. "I've been starting to do research. I picked up some stuff here, so I am going to look into it."

The booth is one of many ways Wake County plans to push the message out over the next few months.

The district mailed letters Wednesday to all parents explaining the plan and, in the coming months, will launch an interactive website with all student options. There will also be other public events, and the district will work with schools and local groups to make sure every parent understands.

The so-called choice-selection process begins in January and will last about six weeks. The school system will notify parents about their assignment by mid-March.