Some districts win and some lose in open enrollment
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About open enrollment
Wisconsin statutes allow families to send their children to any school district in the state if they apply for open enrollment by Friday's 4 p.m. deadline.
A district can only reject an application if:
-- It doesn't have enough space for the student.
-- The student has been expelled in the last two years.
-- The student has special needs that can't be met by the district.
-- The student would attend a pre-kindergarten program not available in his or her home district.
-- The student's transfer would increase a racial imbalance.
Students are under no obligation to commit to the outside district until summer but must apply by Friday to be considered.
Families hoping to enroll students in a virtual school must apply for open enrollment in the school's home district.
To enroll your student in an outside district, visit www.dpi.state.wi.us and click on "public school open enrollment" at the bottom of the right column. If you don't have the Internet, you can get paper forms from your local school district office. Paper forms must be received by Friday.
For more information about open enrollment, contact Mary Jo Cleaver at (888) 245-2732 or MaryJo.Cleaver@dpi.wi.gov.
School districts are watching carefully as the open enrollment deadline approaches Friday.
Wisconsin's open enrollment program, which allows parents to send their children to any public school district in the state, can be an economic boon or bust for districts. For every student a district gains through open enrollment, another district loses a student. Fewer students mean less money.
The program can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars gained or lost for local districts.
In 2007-08, for example, Clinton Community School District gained $295,000 from open enrollment students. A neighboring district, Delavan-Darien, lost $771,000.
That money could be especially important to districts in the coming year as the economy tightens and schools wonder if they will lose state funding.
"We do count on those open enrollment students being there as a revenue source," said Lauri Clifton, comptroller for the Janesville School District.
Janesville gained $212,000 in 2007-08 by taking in 30 more students than it lost.
But Janesville's gain was at Milton's expense. More than half of the students coming into Janesville through open enrollment that year lived in the Milton district. Many of them lived in Janesville homes located in the Milton district, Clifton said.
Milton lost 75 more students than it gained through open enrollment in 2007-08, costing the district $399,000. About two-thirds of open enrollment students leaving Milton go to Janesville schools, Superintendent Bernie Nikolay said.
Nikolay guessed some of those students live in Janesville or have parents who work in Janesville. Other families might be looking for specific athletic or academic opportunities not offered in Milton.
"Financially, we lose some money because of that," he said. "I'd feel a lot better if it was the other way around, but it's not, and it's something that we should be working toward turning around."
The Parkview School District in western Rock County conducted a study last year to find out why it was losing so many students to open enrollment. The district lost 76 students in 2007-08 and took in 26 for a net loss of $268,000.
Answers varied among families, Interim Superintendent Patrick Kennedy said. Some wanted to drop their children off at schools in the same city where they worked. Others were concerned about the age and condition of district facilities. Still others wanted academic, athletic or extracurricular opportunities that aren't available at Parkview.
The study has pushed the district to do better in serving families and promoting a positive image of itself, Kennedy said.
Officials promote the district to local municipal boards and organizations, and the district sends a copy of the student newspaper to every home in the district, Kennedy said. In past years, it has written to all parents sending their children out of the district, encouraging them to take another look at Parkview.
This year, the district had a net loss of 44 students—an improvement from 50 the year before. Officials hope that number continues to shrink.
Despite open enrollment's challenges, Kennedy and other administrators said the program is good for public education.
"Whether it's home schooling, whether it's a school in a different area, whether it's a private school, I think it's good for families to have choices," Nikolay said. "It keeps us on our toes."
Feb 17, 2009 at 8:28 p.m.
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The reason I chose to open enroll my daughter to the district that I teach in was that I was not happy with our "resident" school's reading program. As she was about to begin 1st grade I wanted her in a program that would help her get a good start to reading.
Feb 17, 2009 at 3:54 p.m.
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If a student needs to participate in a E.S.L. class than this is considered specials needs child and the schools gets even more money than the average child. The school is not losing by this.. You know when Evansville was looking at doing a 4k, the way the way the district tried to sell it was, they would get so much per child, and more than likely end up with a surplus. Our administration saw this as a money making opp... What we are saying is if a child needs E.S.L. the it is not taking away from the average child in the main stream. The school is being paid to offer this service.
Feb 17, 2009 at 3:46 p.m.
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'They take away more resources from people who have fully paid for their educational rights. The schools are obviously not going to do anything about illegals since their funding is based on the number of students.'
You kind of contradict yourself. Stating they are taking away money from the school by having to hire a E.S.L. teacher.. But that is what is paying for the E.S.L. teacher , money they get for each of these kids.
Feb 17, 2009 at 3:36 p.m.
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The issue is moot as to the status of kids who go to our district schools. If they live within the district boundaries whatever their resident status the district can not deny services per federal and state law. I don't believe the question can even be asked. May not seem right or fair but the district has no option but to educate.
Feb 17, 2009 at 2:58 p.m.
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The presence of more illegals in schools leads to a need for more 'english as a 2nd language" teachers. They take away more resources from people who have fully paid for their educational rights. The schools are obviously not going to do anything about illegals since their funding is based on the number of students. That state funding comes out of my pocket (and your pocket). If you want to pay for illegals, go right ahead and voluntarily increase the amount you pay for property taxes. However you have no right to complain the next time your little Johnny or Janey get denied an open enrollement transfer because the school is full (of illegals).
Feb 17, 2009 at 2:57 p.m.
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Realitybytes-
The racial imbalance provision applies to schools participating in the Chapter 220 program to promote racial integration. Participating districts include Madison, Beloit, Wausau, Racine, Milwaukee and several Milwaukee suburbs.
-Stacy Vogel, reporter
Feb 17, 2009 at 2:44 p.m.
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curtaincall,
I never said ALL illegals had fake SS#s; I happen to be employed, and I have no problem with other races. I have a problem with people breaking the law. You said "many go about it the correct way once they are here". If they went about it the CORRECT way they would not be sneaking into the country.
Im am guessing at the actual %, but let's say Rock County has 2% illegals in the various school systems. Thats only a little financial burden caused by law breakers. Would your stance change if you had to pay for a 20% illegal population; 30%; 40%??
Feb 17, 2009 at 2:32 p.m.
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Pat: I brought up the question AND I think it is a plus for all concerned to have these children in our schools. I am not speaking only of financial benefits either.
Feb 17, 2009 at 2:28 p.m.
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Leave it to a few ignorant people to bring up illegals. They are just as human as you and I. I am assuming most of you are human even though you don't talk like it.
Feb 17, 2009 at 2:26 p.m.
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NOT all illegals, have false S.S. many go about it the correct way once they are here. YOU sound like a very angry, racist person. MAYBE unemployed as well.
Feb 17, 2009 at 2:25 p.m.
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They either are working some where or paying rent some where. Most of them do work. That is what people are usually complaining about on here. If they rent or contribute to someone who does rent or own part of that rent or property taxes goes to our schools.
Feb 17, 2009 at 2:22 p.m.
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No kid should have to stay at a school that is not providing either what the child needs academically or for any other reason. It makes for good old fashioned competition. These schools had tended to get way to lax before this.
Feb 17, 2009 at 2:22 p.m.
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"A district can only reject an application if: -- The student's transfer would increase a racial imbalance" How exacly does this work in predominantly white Janesville? Do they only let 9 while students transfer if 1 minority student transfers?
Also,
curtaincall how can you be sure that illegals pay taxes? Do you really think that illegals using fake social security numbers pay/file income taxes? There are millions of people across the world that dont get the same quality education that Americans do. Are you saying that America should pay to educate every lawbreaking illegal alien who sneaks into the country?
Feb 17, 2009 at 2:04 p.m.
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Bigmike, I disagree. I don't think kids should be forced to go to the district they live in. I know of a couple of girls who left their school district because the other kids were so nasty to them. I think if they're that unhappy, they should be allowed to go to a school that will let them be happy.
Feb 17, 2009 at 1:37 p.m.
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SarahB is absolutely correct. Everyone deserves a education, regardless of race, or if they are here legally or not. Here legally or not they still pay taxes.
Feb 17, 2009 at 1:36 p.m.
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BigMike,does anyone remember how this came about,, 'open enrollment' ?? I remember just curious if anyone else remembers some of the history. I am sure MOC0428 must know it well as his wife is a teacher.
Feb 17, 2009 at 12:58 p.m.
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farmdude: I know you are smarter than that. I just want to know if school budgets benefit from having an illegal immigrant enrolled. Whether a child is here legally or not, I think he/she has a right and a need to attend school.
Feb 17, 2009 at 12:49 p.m.
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Maybe some of the schools who see kids leaving by the dozens should look at the reasons they are leaving. Delavan Darien seems to have lost a lot, I wonder why? Could it be that they have a larger gang problem than most other schools in Walworth County?
Feb 17, 2009 at 12:40 p.m.
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What does open enrollment have to do with illegal immigrants?
Feb 17, 2009 at 12:29 p.m.
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You should have to send your kids to whatever school district you live in. If you want your kid to go to a school other than the district in which you live, it should cost you whatever the other school district would lose. When you move, or buy or build a house, you should consider schools before you do it.
Feb 17, 2009 at 10:58 a.m.
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Just once, I wish that articles on this subject would address the number of illegal immigrants attending school in Janesville. I have no idea what a rough estimate would be. I am in a minority, also, in that I support their attending school and being a part of the community. How many staff would have to be let go if these families would sent back to their home countries? Also, how much does each area district spend on a student (by way of state and local funding)?
Feb 17, 2009 at 10:37 a.m.
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There's no hockey in Milton. That's our reason.
Feb 17, 2009 at 9:54 a.m.
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The study is clearly simply calling people up and asking them. Why do we have to use such pseudo-scientific words to make something sound so complicated? Any school can do such study for virtually no money. Also, what are these athletic and academic opportunities available in Janesville that are not available in Milton?
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