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Broward School Choice Registration Draws A Crowd

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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A chaotic situation Friday morning as hundreds of parents and guardians showed up at the Broward School District Headquarters to put in applications for reassignments.

The first-come-first-served basis had hundreds of caretakers lining up around 7:30 AM Friday. Many said they didn't expect everyone to show up at the same time and the same date to submit the application.

"We're working parents we're taking time off of our jobs to be here to look after our children's education," said Mariana Zahl. "We're very concerned because this is where our children go to school, these are the people who are in charge of educating our children and we're very disappointed that they weren't able to handle this in any order."

Friday was the first time the school district opened up the process a second time during the school year to give caretakers the chance to get their kids into a different school than the one in their home zone.

CLICK HERE To Watch Joan Murray's Report 

"I'm trying to have my son reassigned schools so he can go with his younger brother who has special needs, I really don't want two separate schools," said John Goldstein.

District employees said they were doing their best to keep order and streamline the process.

"We actually see this is a good sign," said Patrick Sipple, Director of Demographics. "People are actually taking stock into their children's education and wanting to come to Broward schools."

Joanna Jordan said the large crowd was a sign that parents, like herself, are seeking more.

"This is a sign that the parents are hungry for a better education, for a better future for their kids and the schools do not meet the quality that we want for our future," Jordan said.

And there are no guarantees students will be placed in schools of their choice, as Kiana Clarence found out after waiting two hours to get to the front of the line.

"I may not get transportation, I may not go to the school that I want to and I'm going to be very upset about that," Clarence said.

Applications, both in person or mailed, need to be submitted by September 4.

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