Tata: New student assignment plan works

The so-called "Community-Based Choice Plan" allows parents to choose from a variety of schools based on their address. It also takes into account achievement balance and capacity at each school.

Nearly 14,000 Wake County households participated in a test run in June, and Tata and his student assignment task force plan to modify it before it goes to the board for final approval this fall.

Still left for review are the financial implications of plan as well as other data. Most families who participated in the test were interested in how close the choices were to home.

The proposed plan would reduce bus ride times for elementary students, but Tata said that he is concerned about bus routes and has asked transportation leaders to look at the potential costs.

Tata said he also wants to look at how magnet schools fit into choices. Some of them might be at capacity. He is concerned about where students displaced from magnet schools would be placed.