In what Turkel called a "huge concession," the measure does not guarantee that parental choice will return in 2003-04.

But she also gained a provision ensuring that the School Committee would be able to shape future small school assignments at CRLS. The measure passed last night requires D'Alessandro to propose a new plan by April for assigning students to small schools at CRLS, even though the plan would not take effect for two more years and would not be required to consider parental choice.

But while E. Denise Simmons and Turkel changed their votes, committee members Susana M. Segat and Nancy Walser voted against last night's measure, saying they wanted assurances from administrators that parental choice would factor into assignments at CRLS in the future. They also objected that administrators had left plans for the development of the five small schools too vague.

"You can't stop choice. You must deal with it," Walser said.

But on that point D'Alessandro said she would not concede, insisting that the committee not require that CRLS adopt choice in the future. She said she would engage CRLS parents, students and teachers in a discussion this spring about the future of school choice but wants to preserve flexibility for high school administrators.

"I will guarantee the conversation. I will not guarantee the result," D'Alessandro said to loud and prolonged applause.

--Staff writer Andrew S. Holbrook can be reached at holbr@fas.harvard.edu.