LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Jefferson County Public Schools families have until Dec. 22 to turn in their school choice applications.
It's the process families go through to register or apply for schools. Parents facing the deadline are struggling to make a decision not knowing whether their student will have access to bus transportation next school year.
"I do like the fact that parents have some choice," said former JCPS teacher Emily Pruitt. Things have changed a lot since Pruitt retired, "So parents just have to adapt."
Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Ky. school choice booklets for the 2024-25 school year. (WDRB Image)
JCPS breaks down the school choice application process in a few steps.
First, explore the list of schools and note the ones you are interested in. Register your student. This applies if your child is new to the district, entering kindergarten, or early childhood programs.
Verify: After completing the registration process, provide a proof of address to JCPS via email with a photo ID and a current residency document.
After you are verified by the district, which can take about 24-48 hours to process, JCPS will send you an activation key, which will allow you to select magnet schools as well as zone choices for those currently in 5th and 8th grade.
Finally, JCPS will confirm your child's school assignment by mail.
"I've done some consulting work in systems where there was no transportation like Chicago, for instance. They depend on the city system completely. So it may be we're headed toward that. I don't know. Tax dollars will only stretch so far. And you didn't even do but the idea of getting every child to every school is just not feasible," Pruitt explained.
The deadline to apply is Friday. However, JCPS spokesperson Carolyn Callahan said "most families do not need to register, so the verification process doesn't apply to most families. It is only for families new to the district."
Callahan also said families need to reset their parent portal user name or password to access the application, if they don't have their activation key that was mailed and emailed to them.
In addition, Callahan told WDRB, if you start the process Wednesday night, you should be ok and verified by Friday's deadline.
Pruitt said, "The deadline seems a little bit early, but they have to do that, if they've got to have choice."
Parents also need to consider transportation. The district announced it will only guarantee busing for special education students and kids who attend their reside school. Students who may lose transportation -- including students who attend magnet schools.
"I know there's a lot of negative stuff and especially when I was there, too. But I think the kids will kind of emulate the, the the attitude of the parents," Pruitt advised.
Callahan said families will know if they got the school of their choice by the end of March or the beginning of April.
If families have questions, contact the JCPS school choice office at 502-485-6250 or visit the website.
Related Stories:
- JCPS says transportation not guaranteed for all students next school year
- Union leadership reacts to plan to cut JCPS bus routes for 2024-25 school year
- JCPS Board member acknowledges 'mistake' in multiple start times, as district considers options
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