§ 38–1802.14a. Charter schools admissions task force.

(a) There is established a task force that shall study providing a neighborhood preference in charter school admissions for the 2013-2014 school year. The task force shall consist of:

(1) The following 5 government officials, or their designees:

(A) Chairman of the Public Charter School Board;

(B) Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia;

(C) State Superintendent of Education;

(D) Deputy Mayor for Education; and

(E) Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools; and

(2) The following nongovernment members:

(A) Two representatives from charter support organizations;

(B) A representative from the education department of a national research organization;

(C) A representative from a national charter school organization;

(D) Two charter school leaders selected by the Public Charter School Board Chair; and

(E) A labor representative.

(b) The task force shall:

(1) Be chaired by the Chairman of the Public Charter School Board, or his or her designee;

(2) Meet at an agreed to location as often as determined necessary by the Chairman of the task force;

(3) Explore the feasibility of offering a neighborhood preference in charter school admissions for the 2013-2014 school year; and

(4) By September 1, 2012, submit a report to the Council of its findings, which shall include:

(A) Consideration of the various ways in which a neighborhood preference can be designed, including:

(i) The pros and cons of a weighted lottery;

(ii) Setting aside of a certain percentage of new seats;

(iii) A geographically limited preference; and

(iv) A preference based on rankings in a city-wide application process;

(B) A definition of neighborhood for the purpose of setting boundaries in admissions;

(C) An examination of models that are being used in other jurisdictions and evaluation of their applicability to the District; and

(D) Recommendations based on its findings.