Student Assignment Project Presentation

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Agenda Item

b. Student Assignment Project Update ~ Updated 6.15.2026

Summary: Presented by: Triscilla Weaver, Ph.D., Chief of Access & Opportunity, Division of Access & Opportunity
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT




Student Assignment
Project
Reminders and Updates

Board of Education Presentation | June 2026




                      Every student deserves access to opportunity, no matter the enrollment of their school.
HOW WE HAVE EVOLVED AND WHY

             ROUNDS 1 & 2 APPROACH                                                    CURRENT EVOLUTION


                                                                       Community-led conversations focused on
 Scenario-first presentations
                                                                       overcrowding and under-enrollment solutions



                                                                       Independent facilitators; conversations tailored to
 Uniform meetings across all clusters
                                                                       each community



                                                                       Buildings, boundaries, and programs addressed
 Buildings discussed separately
                                                                       together in comprehensive conversations



                                                                       Community voice comes BEFORE any
 Community input during and after planning
                                                                       recommendation goes to the Board of Education



                                        We learned, and we applied what we learned.                                          2
THREE COMMITMENTS


                 01                                        02                                         03




     Community Voice                             Comprehensive                               Independent
       Is Essential                              Conversations                                Facilitators
No recommendation goes to the Board       Buildings, boundaries, and programs are   Each cluster conversation will be led by
     of Education until impacted            addressed together, not in separate     a third-party facilitator who specializes
  communities have had a genuine,          silos. Communities will see how each      in trusted community conversations.
substantive opportunity to participate.          decision affects the others.
Not after. Not simultaneously. Before.




                                                                                                                                3
CENTERING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE



        Overcrowded Schools                                             Under-Enrolled Schools

 Students and teachers stretched beyond what a                  Empty seats drain programs that students deserve
 healthy learning environment allows.                           and have a right to access.

 •   Crowded classrooms                                         •    Fewer AP and advanced courses
 •   Insufficient shared spaces                                 •    Reduced arts and elective offerings
 •   Teacher workloads that strain quality                      •    Less access to resources and technology

 Conversations begin in the Fall of 2026 in                     Conversations begin in the Spring of 2027
 the Lakeside, Cross Keys, Chamblee, Tucker,                    in the Towers, McNair, Cedar Grove, Miller
 Dunwoody, and Druid Hills clusters.                            Grove, Columbia, and MLK clusters.



                                    The Incorporation of the Student Experience                                    4
Goals of the Request for Proposal (RFP) - 26-737


    • Develop a community engagement plan tailored to each cluster.
1   • Ensure broad and equitable participation across all clusters and stakeholder
      groups.
    • Provide multilingual engagement to ensure access for all community
      members.
    • Increase transparency and trust between the District and the communities it
3
      serves.
    • Build community understanding of the boundary review process.
    • Identify community priorities to inform district decision-making.
    • Provide synthesized feedback to the Superintendent and the Board of
      Education.
5



                                                                                     5
WHAT'S NEXT?


    1   June 26, 2026: RFP Closes

1

    2   July 13, 2026: RFP presented to the Board of Education for consideration


    3   June-August 2026: Establishment of Logistics for the Community Meetings
3


    4   Fall 2026: Community Meetings in targeted clusters impacted by overcrowding


        Spring 2027: Community Meetings in targeted clusters impacted by under-enrollment
    5
5



                                                                                            6
THE BOTTOM LINE




    No decisions have been made. Community voice comes before Board action.




    Overcrowding and under-enrollment are costing students opportunities right now.




    New cluster and schools open 2027 - 2029. Families deserve a plan before those doors open.



     Every student deserves access to opportunity, no matter the enrollment of their school.




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