GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Public school open enrollment time is here.
For Beth Mader of Allouez, participating in open enrollment was in the best interest for her children. She spoke to WLUK.
“It’s a great tool that parents can have in deciding where their kids go to school”
Mader says her oldest daughter’s passion for basketball was one of the reasons why they decided to explore other options outside of the Green Bay Public School District.
“Our kids like sports, and with the changes in the district to Washington, and East turning into an Arts Academy things like that really wasn’t our bent”
When students transfer districts, it also affects school funding.
According the most recent numbers for the 2015-2016 school year:
1. The Green Bay Area School District gained 384 new students, and lost 1,933 to other districts.That is a net loss of 1,549 students, and a loss of more than 8 million dollars in aid.
2. Appleton gained 1,639 students, and lost 587 other students through open enrollment.That is a net gain of 1052 students, and working out to more than 6 million dollars more in aid.
Tom McCarthy Communications Director for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction says state-wide open enrollment has continued to grow
“By far the largest and most popular version of choice in the State of Wisconsin, bigger than private, bigger than charter, very popular option for parents.”
And as for parents like Mader, she says it’s a program she will continue to use.
“You can really customize your child’s education”
Under public school open enrollment, parents may apply during a three-month application process to the school district they wish their children to attend using the online application website, openenrollment@dpi.wi.gov.
Open Enrollment application is open until April 28th. Districts will notify parents by June 9th whether their open enrollment applications have been approved or denied.
In the 2015-16 school year 55,737 students transferred.
