Join host Cynthia of K-12 News Network with two women who were instrumental in changing their public elementary school in Alameda Unified School District to a magnet. Lorrie Murray and Kristin Atkins are two parent leaders with children in AUSD schools who successfully supported a parcel tax and co-wrote a magnet school proposal with their school district. In this how-to, we'll learn how they did it, what conditions were necessary for them to work with the school district, what writing the proposal was like, and what their wonderful magnet school will offer children in the community starting in August of 2012.

Part 1 describes the process of laying the groundwork for converting a Title I elementary school to a magnet: working to pass the parcel tax and also clarifying the community's priorities through mutliple town hall meetings and several drafts of the magnet school proposal.

Part 2 describes the new magnet's innovative programs, approaches, community support, eligibility requirements, and applying for the Innovative Programs part of the district's school choice policy (similar to magnet schools but not a school closure and re-opening, but more rather a sharpening of curricular or programmatic focus, like adding a 6th grade to a regular K-5 elementary, for example). This is what you're listening to now.

See more on public school options at K-12 News Network.