FeedsSchools of Choice program offers limited availability
Registration has started for the Van Buren Public School District Schools of Choice program, which will include limited spaces depending on grade level and availability.
Twelve spots are available for out-of-district students in the first through the eighth grades. The gifted and talented program, which covers grades one, two and six, has 10 spots available in each grade level. Registration for the limited spaces will continue until Aug. 18. The kindergarten and alternative education program offers unlimited spots and will end registration on Aug. 31.
Schools of Choice is a statewide plan that allows school districts to open enrollment to non-resident students. The program helps the district qualify for more state funding and is an alternative for parents, according to officials.
“The child and the parent get a choice of where they want to go to school,” said Paul Henning, spokesperson for the Van Buren Public School District. “And, it brings in foundation allowance and factors that in for each student.”
“We are proud to offer families the opportunity to match the needs of the individual student with a school district that will meet those needs,” said Superintendent Pete Lazaroff.
A by-product of the Schools of Choice program, however, is competition for that foundation allowance. The current foundation allowance is $7,383 per pupil and the district typically has about 300 Schools of Choice students, Henning said.
“If a district’s finances aren’t so terrific, they can campaign to get other district’s kids and that foundation allowance,” he said. “Unfortunately with the way school financing is going some look to that to boost income.”
Kathy Kovach, secretary to the superintendent, said the requests for applications have been coming in, particularly with the all-day kindergarten program.
Romulus Community Schools will also offer limited Schools of Choice opportunities for the 2006-2007 school year. It will be offered at Merriman and Halecreek elementary schools. About 49 students at the schools will be accepted.
Carl Weiss, superintendent for Romulus Community Schools, said the district needs to do what the neighboring districts are doing to maintain enrollment levels.
“All of the other districts in the area are doing this and we need to make sure we keep up with our neighbors,” he said. “We’re surrounded by districts that are offering choice and another charter school opening near one of our facilities could take more. We need to use every tool at our disposal to hold onto students. If we didn’t do that, we’d have to look at closing buildings.”
The Romulus school district has lost about 750 students during the last five years, while in the Van Buren Public School District, loss seems to equal out the gain, officials said. Schools of Choice and charter schools seem to be the two main factors.
“We’ve noticed a trend from the Willow-Run School District (Ypsilanti) who are not releasing kids this year. The climates are changing,” said Henning. “We did gain some students from St. Anthony’s closing, too, but many did decide to go to a nearby Catholic school.”
For more information about Schools of Choice, contact the administration building at (734) 697-9123 ext. 209.
Staff Writer Molly Tippen contributed to this story.
