KSBA eNews Service, Frankfort, Feb. 3, 2017
Secretary Heiner: Kentucky should let students attend any school with space; state, U.S. funds would go to nonresident district
by Brad Hughes
Gov. Matt Bevin's point person on education issues is advocating that Kentucky end most residency-based school attendance requirements for students, allowing them - and their associated state and federal funding - to accompany them in transferring to schools of their choice.
In a document released in advance of the Feb. 8 meeting of the Kentucky Board of Education, Education and Workforce Development Secretary Hal Heiner proposes "a statewide policy which allows students to seamlessly attend schools in districts where they do not live when seats are available." The document, entitled "Improving Achievement through Inter-District Transfer," is part of advance KBE meeting materials posted online. Heiner or his designee regularly make reports on education issues to the state board, and in the past, his comments have closely aligned to the content of the advance report to the KBE.
"School districts in Kentucky always work hard to meet the needs of their students by offering innovative academic programs, instructional approaches, and co-curricular activities. But even with the best of intentions, students’ needs and career aspirations are so diverse today that no school district can ever be expected to meet each demand. Putting students in the position of not being able to pursue their area of interest or career pathway because their aspirations do not align with the programs available in their home districts is not in the best interest of the student or our Commonwealth. It is even more unfortunate, however, that Kentucky students miss opportunities to participate in innovative programs aligned with their personal goals when seats are available in neighboring school districts," Heiner said in the document.
"Currently in Kentucky, local school districts may enter into voluntary inter-district enrollment agreements with other school districts allowing nonresident students to attend. While that current framework allows for some students to benefit from programs in neighboring districts, an enhanced statewide policy allows for many more students to benefit academically," the secretary said. "Students in one Kentucky school district should never be prohibited from benefiting from innovative programs in neighboring districts, especially when parents are willing to provide transportation and an open seat is available. It’s time for Kentucky to give consideration to this powerful tool available to parents in 19 other states. Providing students access to an expanded array of specialized academic and career programs is great for the student and a major step forward for the future of our Commonwealth."
Heiner cites examples of "voluntary inter-district transfer" models in Indiana and Michigan. In Indiana, transfer requests may be made when parents think programs in another district will better meet their children's needs, academic or medical, or if there is an overcrowding issue in the home district's school. In Michigan, districts may limit the number of nonresident students and may refuse a student disciplined elsewhere, and parents are required to provide transportation.
One of the most significant aspects of Heiner's proposal relates to how open enrollment system would impact state and federal funding of schools, much of which is based on student enrollment.
"A potential solution would allow SEEK and federal funding to follow the student (as if the student moved), while local funding would stay in the home district," the secretary said in the document. "This approach allows approximately 60 percent of typical tuition to follow the child as incremental income for open seats in the receiving district with the remaining 40 percent staying in the student’s home district (without the expense of educating the student).
"Public school funding is for the purpose of educating students, and that funding should follow students to whatever public schools they attend," Heiner said.
Heiner also addressed the issue of student athlete participation in school athletics, saying, "A straight forward solution would give the student a choice of playing at their home school or red-shirt for their first year at the out-of-district school."
The document does not indicate how or if the Bevin administration may attempt to pursue the proposal. While expanded "school choice" options have been discussed for possible consideration during the 2017 General Assembly session that resumes Feb. 7, no bills proposing such language are on file on the Legislative Research Commission's website.
Heiner's document may be read in full here as the attachement to agenda item VI.