Software platform engages communities in school rezoning decisions
Left to right: Colin Flynn, Vicki Keegan, and Susan Hembach from Loudoun County Public Schools meet at the Discovery Analytics Center with Ph.D. students Andreea Sistrunk, Subhodip Biswas, and Fanglan Chen to discuss how Redistrict is helping to establish school attendance zones.
School rezoning decisions often cause emotional stress for families and communities for a variety of reasons.
Parents worry about continuity of programs and activities at a new school, the toll it might take on their children’s friendships, and modes of transportation. School officials, administrators, and staff want to ensure that all students have equitable access to educational programs and facilities. Almost everyone is concerned about the impact a particular school attendance zone will have on traffic patterns, especially at opening and closing times.
Redistrict, an online interactive platform developed at the Discovery Analytics Center at Virginia Tech, is trying to reduce that stress by getting parents and other stakeholders more involved in the process. The platform uses data analytics and machine learning to help them better understand school rezoning plans and their potential effect on the community; share their comments and concerns about proposed plans; propose changes to boundaries; and even create their own plans. Click here to read more about the Redistrict platform.