BOSTON (CBS) – After a year of study, a Boston Schools External Advisory Committee has recommended a home-based school assignment plan.  The new plan would do away with the zone system that has assigned many far from their neighborhoods over the past two decades.

The home-based assignment plan was approved on the first ballot Monday night. Advisory Committee co-chair Helen Dajer says the decision coalesced in recent days.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Lana Jones reports

“When school choice comes about, there’s a lot of emotion in where your child is assigned to school,” said Dajer. “We’ve been listening to a lot of parents who want more predictability.”

The 24-member panel was appointed by Mayor Tom Menino last January. They approved the plan known as “Home-based/A” that gives families a choice of a minimum of six schools near their home, based on their home address.

It’s now up to the School Committee to accept or reject the recommendation.