National School Choice Week
School choice proponents are
celebrating Jan. 24-30 as National School Choice Week.
The term "school choice" covers numerous options that parents have for selecting the best educational opportunities for their children, organizers say. These options include:
• Public school open enrollment that allows students to attend a different public school, regardless of location
• Public magnet schools that focus on a particular subject such as math, science or the arts
• Public charter schools designed to create innovative learning environments
• Online academies
• Scholarship or tax deduction programs for private school enrollment
• Homeschooling
MONROE - Area school districts have been losing more students to open enrollment than they're gaining in recent years.
Open enrollment allows students to apply to attend school in districts where they are not residents. During the open enrollment period - Monday through April 29 for the 2016-17 school year - all districts have students transfer in and other students transfer out.
But with the student goes the funding. The student's resident district has to pay a set amount to the district the student chooses to attend. That amount was $6,485 for 2013-14 and $6,635 for 2014-15.
Most area schools experienced a net loss in open enrollment for those two years, according to data from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Albany school district took the largest hit in the area, with a net loss of 69 students in 2013-14 and 75 students in 2014-15. Those transfers resulted in the district paying out more than $370,000 in aid to other districts both years.
Juda and New Glarus had a significant number of students transfer in to their districts both years. They are the only area school districts with a net gain for both years: Juda pulled in 50 more students than it lost in 2013-14 and 56 in 2014-15; New Glarus drew in a net of 51 students in 2013-14 and 55 in 2014-15.
Juda Superintendent Traci Davis said the district does well during open enrollment partially because it's a more convenient option for some families due to its location between Brodhead and Monroe. She also said she's heard small class sizes are a reason some parents have opted for Juda over other districts.
With resident enrollment flat, Davis said open enrollment helps significantly.
"We understand we do have a significant amount of open enrollment and, you know, we're happy to have them and glad that they chose to come to Juda," Davis said.
Monroe school district experienced the largest change between the two years. In 2013-14, the district had a net gain of 121 students during open enrollment but then experienced a net loss of 50 students in 2014-15.
TRANSFERS
Open enrollment net transfers for area school districts.
2013-14, 2014-15
Albany
-69, -75
Argyle
-22, -28
Black Hawk
-25, -23
Brodhead
-6, 6
Darlington
2, -7
Juda
50, 56
Monroe
121, -50
Monticello
-24, -18
New Glarus
51, 55
Pecatonica
-32, -31
Open enrollment allows students to apply to attend school in districts where they are not residents. During the open enrollment period - Monday through April 29 for the 2016-17 school year - all districts have students transfer in and other students transfer out.
But with the student goes the funding. The student's resident district has to pay a set amount to the district the student chooses to attend. That amount was $6,485 for 2013-14 and $6,635 for 2014-15.
Most area schools experienced a net loss in open enrollment for those two years, according to data from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Albany school district took the largest hit in the area, with a net loss of 69 students in 2013-14 and 75 students in 2014-15. Those transfers resulted in the district paying out more than $370,000 in aid to other districts both years.
Juda and New Glarus had a significant number of students transfer in to their districts both years. They are the only area school districts with a net gain for both years: Juda pulled in 50 more students than it lost in 2013-14 and 56 in 2014-15; New Glarus drew in a net of 51 students in 2013-14 and 55 in 2014-15.
Juda Superintendent Traci Davis said the district does well during open enrollment partially because it's a more convenient option for some families due to its location between Brodhead and Monroe. She also said she's heard small class sizes are a reason some parents have opted for Juda over other districts.
With resident enrollment flat, Davis said open enrollment helps significantly.
"We understand we do have a significant amount of open enrollment and, you know, we're happy to have them and glad that they chose to come to Juda," Davis said.
Monroe school district experienced the largest change between the two years. In 2013-14, the district had a net gain of 121 students during open enrollment but then experienced a net loss of 50 students in 2014-15.
TRANSFERS
Open enrollment net transfers for area school districts.
2013-14, 2014-15
Albany
-69, -75
Argyle
-22, -28
Black Hawk
-25, -23
Brodhead
-6, 6
Darlington
2, -7
Juda
50, 56
Monroe
121, -50
Monticello
-24, -18
New Glarus
51, 55
Pecatonica
-32, -31