MONROE - Local school districts began receiving requests for open enrollment Monday for a variety of reasons, and it can have an impact on a district.
Students apply to attend another school district for several reasons, Monroe school district Superintendent Larry Brown said.
Some schools may offer unique programs for students, he said, while there are a few students or parents, who simply don't like the school districts they're in.
Some students who may be in high school might have moved to a home in a different school district and want to continue attending their previous school to be near friends and to finish their education in the other district.
Brown said the most common reason was convenience.
"Parents might work in another school district and they transfer their children to that district," he said.
The open enrollment period, from Feb. 1 to Feb. 19, allows parents to apply to send their children to any public school district of their choice.
Last school year more than 28,000 Wisconsin students participated, according to an Associated Press report. It's available for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Local districts don't actively campaign for students, but, in reality, that's what happens.
According to the Associated Press, school districts across the state have used videos, newspaper ads and Web sites to recruit students.
"It's a competitive market," Brown said. "Whether people think of it that way or not, your schools market against each other."
In the 2008-09 school year, 431 students applied to attend the Monroe school district while 74 requested to leave the district, Brown said.
Monticello Superintendent Karen Ballin said where a parent works is the most common reason students choose to leave the district.
In the 2008-09 school year, 21 students came into the Monticello district while 37 left the district.
Open enrollment can be difficult for small districts that are already seeing a loss in enrollment and cutting programs to save money. Students who want advanced programs may leave a small district if cuts are made to curriculum, Ballin said. The result can be a continuous cycle of losing students, cutting programs and losing more students, she said.
Brodhead Superintendent Charles Deery said Brodhead took in 54 students in the 2008-09 school year. There were 50 students who left the district.
Open enrollment hasn't caused problems for the Brodhead school district, but Deery said he can see it happen in other districts.
"It can be a huge issue," he said.
School districts receive about $10,000 from state aid for each students, he said. When a student leaves the district, the district sends $6,800 to the other district.
Deery said it's unusual for districts to deny a student's request to come into the district. Usually the requests for a student to come into the district are denied when there isn't enough classroom space or enough room in a program.
Students can apply for three non-resident school districts. Current open enrolled students don't need to re-apply.
More information about open enrollment is available at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Webs site, www.dpi.state.wi.us.
Students apply to attend another school district for several reasons, Monroe school district Superintendent Larry Brown said.
Some schools may offer unique programs for students, he said, while there are a few students or parents, who simply don't like the school districts they're in.
Some students who may be in high school might have moved to a home in a different school district and want to continue attending their previous school to be near friends and to finish their education in the other district.
Brown said the most common reason was convenience.
"Parents might work in another school district and they transfer their children to that district," he said.
The open enrollment period, from Feb. 1 to Feb. 19, allows parents to apply to send their children to any public school district of their choice.
Last school year more than 28,000 Wisconsin students participated, according to an Associated Press report. It's available for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Local districts don't actively campaign for students, but, in reality, that's what happens.
According to the Associated Press, school districts across the state have used videos, newspaper ads and Web sites to recruit students.
"It's a competitive market," Brown said. "Whether people think of it that way or not, your schools market against each other."
In the 2008-09 school year, 431 students applied to attend the Monroe school district while 74 requested to leave the district, Brown said.
Monticello Superintendent Karen Ballin said where a parent works is the most common reason students choose to leave the district.
In the 2008-09 school year, 21 students came into the Monticello district while 37 left the district.
Open enrollment can be difficult for small districts that are already seeing a loss in enrollment and cutting programs to save money. Students who want advanced programs may leave a small district if cuts are made to curriculum, Ballin said. The result can be a continuous cycle of losing students, cutting programs and losing more students, she said.
Brodhead Superintendent Charles Deery said Brodhead took in 54 students in the 2008-09 school year. There were 50 students who left the district.
Open enrollment hasn't caused problems for the Brodhead school district, but Deery said he can see it happen in other districts.
"It can be a huge issue," he said.
School districts receive about $10,000 from state aid for each students, he said. When a student leaves the district, the district sends $6,800 to the other district.
Deery said it's unusual for districts to deny a student's request to come into the district. Usually the requests for a student to come into the district are denied when there isn't enough classroom space or enough room in a program.
Students can apply for three non-resident school districts. Current open enrolled students don't need to re-apply.
More information about open enrollment is available at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Webs site, www.dpi.state.wi.us.