SB 18-228: Improving School Choice In Traditional Schools

Under current law, a school district (district) can only transport students from an adjacent district to its schools or reimburse a parent for transporting such students to its schools if the adjacent district consents to the transportation. The bill allows a school district to transport a student to its district even if the student does not reside in an adjacent district and without seeking the consent of the student's resident district. Under current law, a district shall adopt policies and procedures to implement school of choice enrollment for students that allow a student to attend a school within the student's resident district other than his or her assigned school or to attend school in another school district. The bill requires that the school of choice enrollment application policies and procedures include: An enrollment application period of at least 4 weeks; An enrollment application period that does not close before February 15 of each year; The ability to apply to at least 5 schools within the district using a standardized application for each school; and In-person or online submission of the applications. The bill requires the district to notify students each year of the school of choice enrollment policies and procedures, including the relevant deadlines, and to post the policies and procedures on the district's website. In addition, the department of education shall include on its website an outline of the laws relating to school of choice enrollment and a link to each district's school of choice website provisions. For a student attending school in a district other than the student's resident district, the bill allows the student to remain in the nonresident district school through the highest grade level served in the school. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)  

CEA opposed this bill because it would ultimately pit wealthy districts against those with fewer resources. Lead to “poaching of students,” gut the ability of districts working to improve student learning by ripping away funding, and increase an already existing fiscally burden with transportation. Further, as the state has recognized increase resources are good/needed for all districts/schools and that additional resources can help jumpstart and sustain improvement. However, this bill would simultaneously reduce funding by creating student poaching.