Acmetonia students build sense of belonging, community with new program

Kellen Stepler

Students at Acmetonia Elementary School not only have homework, they also have house work.

Under the “House System,” students are assigned to one of five groups, or houses. House meetings are held each month, and students collaborate with their peers to work on various community-building activities, said Rebecca Garbisch, school counselor.

This week, students made Valentine’s Day cards for residents at Amber Woods at HarmarVillage. Previous meetings have featured ice-breaker and social skills activities.

Since its installation in the fall, the program has brought a better sense of community, character and academic development, school leaders say.

“It stemmed from a desire to provide a fun, community-based, positive behavior activity for students while at the same time create something that would give a good reason for students to feel excited about coming to school,” Garbisch said.

Students also try to earn house points for their team, which can be awarded through academic success, positive behavior, and attendance.

“For elementary students, being part of a house can help to build a positive connection to their school,” Principal Greg Heavner said. “Having mixed-grade groups allows older students to form leadership skills and gain experience in mentoring. Younger students benefit from the experience and encouragement of students in higher grades.

“We are always looking to build a stronger school culture, and our House System is part of that positive school culture recipe.”

Sixth grader Faith Browo said the program has improved students’ behavior and created a sense of belonging at the school.

“It’s a good teamwork thing — to learn how to get along with each other,” she said.

Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at [email protected] .

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Education News

Texas High School Put Students on Panel to Review Sexually Explicit Books

Tony Kinnett / @TheTonus / February 16, 2024

A Texas high school put students on a committee tasked with reviewing books with sexually explicit content that parents had flagged.(Photo illustration: Katrina Strasunske / Getty Images)

A high school principal in Texas slow-walked a review of nearly 200 books in the school library that parents flagged for sexually explicit material, setting a timetable of 22 years to reconsider them, according to documents and emails obtained by The Daily Signal .

Parents in Llano, Texas , told The Daily Signal that they began expressing concerns to Llano High School’s principal in January 2023 about library books rated “adult” by the publishers. Several of the books include extremely graphic sex scenes. 

The parents shared their emails to Llano Principal Scott Patrick with The Daily Signal, which has not been able to verify their authenticity independently. The high school didn’t confirm or deny the authenticity of the emails, which also indicate that Patrick included students on a panel reviewing challenged books.

Llano High School serves 529 students in Llano Independent School District, based in Llano, Texas. 

On Jan. 17, Bonnie Wallace, the mother of a former student, filed a detailed form, called a “Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials” for the book “Call Me by Your Name” by Andre Aciman, which was available for students to check out of the high school library.

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Wallace said the book contains explicit sexual scenes that are unsuitable for distribution to minors by a taxpayer-funded school , such as this one on page 144:

I saw one of them enter my room and reach for the fruit, and with the fruit in hand, come to my bed and bring it to my hard c***… and gently press the soft overripe peach on my c*** till I’d pierced the fruit along the crease that reminded me so much of Oliver’s a**.

A Texas bill passed in June 2023, the READER Act, requires public schools to remove books that include material that is “sexually explicit, harmful, pervasively vulgar, or educationally unsuitable” from classrooms and libraries accessible to minors. The law reinforces existing Texas Education Agency policy forbidding schools from providing explicit materials to minors.

Through January, Wallace filed reports on four other books with similar issues for concerned parents. 

Patrick didn’t remove the books or respond to the vulgar, sexually explicit paragraphs that Wallace cited in her reports. It appears that the high school’s principal also ignored or disregarded books’ changed statuses as “adult” by publishers and distributors.

The book “A Court of Silver Flames” by Sarah Maas contains multiple scenes in which the narrator describes a character’s request to “f*** me … on this table, on this chair, on every surface in this house.” 

Other sexual scenes in Maas’ book are too vulgar for The Daily Signal to print, yet students may read them in Llano High School’s library.

The publisher, Bloomsbury Publishing , changed the rating of the Maas’ entire “Court of Thorns and Roses” series from “young adult” to “adult” in September 2020, as Wallace pointed out to Patrick in an email. As of publication of this story, the designation for “A Court of Silver Flames’” remains “young adult” in Llano High School’s library.

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In a January 22 email obtained by The Daily Signal, Patrick laid out for Wallace and other parents how the school district would review the cited books. The principal said he anticipated that process would take “roughly 30 days” for each book. His email suggests that the committee would review books one at a time. 

Parents have reported 198 books in Llano High School as violating the Texas Education Agency’s regulation and the Texas READER Act . At a rate of nine working months per year, Patrick’s email suggests that the Llano school district would spend over 22.5 years reviewing the cited books. 

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On Friday, exactly 30 days later, Patrick informed Wallace of the reconsideration committee’s decision on “Call Me by Your Name,” the first of the concerning books in line.

“The reconsideration committee has voted to remove the book from circulation by a vote of 7:0,” the principal wrote.

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Patrick didn’t provide a reason in the email for removing the book, nor did he respond to The Daily Signal’s question about why the book remained on the shelves of his school’s library during the review.

The other books with explicit passages, cited in forms shared by parents, appear to remain accessible to students in Llano High School’s library. The Daily Signal sought to confirm this with Patrick and the school district,  but neither responded by publication time.

According to Patrick’s emails, the “book reconsideration” committee included students until a lawyer recommended their removal from the process. It isn’t clear when the school district or the high school selected students to review the sexually explicit books , nor how many students of what ages were recruited.

Neither Patrick nor any other administrator in the Llano school district answered The Daily Signal’s questions about how students found out about the book review committee and were added to it, or why Patrick suddenly removed them.

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Patrick told Wallace in a Jan. 31 email: “Students were placed on the committee after the district received parental consent for them to participate.”

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In a Feb. 6 email to Wallace, Patrick said of the students on the review committee: “Although their participation is allowed by policy, the district determined it is in their best interest to be removed from the process so that they are insulated from any potential controversy.” 

The Llano school district did not confirm the authenticity of the emails and forms sent between Patrick and Wallace.

Assuming the emails are authentic, Patrick may have recognized a potential controversy in asking students, some perhaps minors, to read “adult” books with passages detailing sex, gore, and drug use in vulgar fashion.

The school district’s 2023-2024 Student Handbook bans the use of “profane language” in class and on clothing, which presumably includes vulgar slang for male and female genitalia and sexual acts.

According to parents, Patrick acknowledged receiving complaints highlighting sexual passages in the books. The principal didn’t explain why he didn’t immediately remove the books from the school library until they had been reviewed, given parents’ concerns.

Parents told The Daily Signal that the books remain available in the school library while under review.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

Have an opinion about this article? To sound off, please email  [email protected] , and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.

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Education Next

  • The Journal
  • Vol. 17, No. 2

How Satisfied are Parents with Their Children’s Schools?

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Albert Cheng

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Paul E. Peterson

See the full results of this study here .

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All four sectors in K–12 education compete for the support of their customers—that is, the parents of their prospective students. Those parents have more choices today than in decades past: they may send their children to the public school automatically assigned to them by their school district, or opt for a private school, charter school, or district-run school of choice. These choices include a range of cost and convenience—and, not surprisingly, a range of customer satisfaction levels.

The assigned-school-district sector has a strong competitive advantage because assigned-district schools are free and universally available, and 76 percent of American students attend them, according to a 2012 survey by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education. The three choice sectors do not enjoy those advantages and enroll fewer students: 10 percent of U.S. students attend private schools, 9 percent attend district schools of choice, and 6 percent attend charters, according to NCES. The private sector has a strong disadvantage because most families must pay tuition. The charter sector has the advantage of its programs being tuition-free but is limited to operating in specific places where charters have been approved by a state-determined authorizer. Similarly, district schools of choice also are tuition-free but cannot operate in competition with assigned-district schools unless school boards specifically allow them.

To maintain and enlarge their market share, all schools of choice must satisfy the families who make use of them, who specifically opt out of the free, more convenient assigned-district alternative. So how favorably do parents rate their children’s programs? How do the choice sectors compare with one another? With which aspects of schooling are choice parents most satisfied? Do these patterns vary across different segments of the population? We explore these questions by comparing parental satisfaction ratings for all four sectors: assigned-district schools, private schools, charter schools, and district schools of choice.

Data and Methods

NCES has regularly gathered data on the educational activities of the U.S. population since 1991 through its National Household Education Surveys Program. In 2012, it administered the “Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey” to a nationally representative sample of households with children enrolled in K–12 schools. Families of school-age children were mailed a questionnaire asking about one of their children’s schools, and the parent most familiar with that child’s school was asked to respond. In the end, 17,166 families, representing a response rate of 58 percent, completed the survey. (An additional 397 families of home-schooled children, who are not included in survey results below, also took part.) This survey was conducted by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), and findings were released in 2015 and updated in 2016. The data were weighted so that results would be representative of the school-age population as a whole.

Among other topics, parents were asked how satisfied they were with various aspects of the school their child attended, including the school overall, the teachers their child had that year, academic standards, order and discipline, and the way the school staff interacted with parents. Respondents were given the option of indicating whether they were very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied.

In their initial report, AIR and NCES researchers divided parents into four categories: parents with a child at an assigned district-operated school, and parents with a child at one of three types of chosen schools; either a public school that they chose (including district-operated schools and charter schools), a religiously affiliated private school, or a private school that did not have a religious affiliation. Students were classified as attending a chosen school if the parent indicated that their child attended a private school or if the parent indicated that their child attended a public school but also responded “No” to the question: “Is [this public school] [your child’s] regularly assigned school?” Some 76 percent attended an assigned public school, 14 percent attended a chosen public school (including charter schools), and 10 percent attended either a religiously affiliated or secular private school.

Charter-school parents are 39 percent of families using chosen public schools and 6 percent of all students in the sample. By separating out these students (most of whom were presumably attending 1 of the 5,274 charter schools operating across the U.S. in 2011), we are able to compare parent satisfaction of students at charter schools with students in private schools, assigned-district schools, and choice district schools.

Those choice district schools, which are attended by the 9 percent of students in chosen public schools who did not attend charters, cannot be further classified by type. We know only that the parent filling out the questionnaire said the school had not been assigned to their child by the district. These chosen district schools largely comprise the country’s 2,722 “magnet” schools (according to 2011 data), most of which offer themed programs and were originally designed to encourage desegregation by attracting a multi-racial clientele. In addition, they likely include some of the estimated 165 competitive “examination schools” like Stuyvesant High School in New York City, a district-run school that offers accelerated academic programs for students who meet rigorous entry standards. District schools also could be chosen when families participate in open enrollment or inter-district choice programs, which allow students in one school district to attend schools in another, often as part of a voluntary desegregation strategy. A few cities, such as Denver and Boston, have quasi–open enrollment plans that allow families to rank the preferred choices for their children’s school rather than following automatic assignments. Whether magnet, exam, or open-enrollment schools, one may infer that many of these chosen schools were selected by parents for the superior educational opportunities they seemed to offer.

Findings on School Composition

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Compared to other sectors, charter-school parents report much lower family incomes and private-school parents report much higher incomes. Charter-school parents are also the least likely to have earned a college degree. Nearly half of charter-school and district-choice-school parents live in urban areas, compared to one-third of private-school parents and one-quarter of families whose children attend assigned-district schools. Parents at charters and district schools of choice are more likely to live in the West.

Adjustment for demographic differences . On the web site of the Harvard Program on Education Policy and Governance (https://www.hks.harvard.edu/pepg/), we present our unabridged analysis, including estimates of sector differences in satisfaction that adjust for the variation in the demographic background of parents across sectors. The statistical significance of these adjusted differences as shown in Figures 2 and 3 are estimated by models that take into account the entire distribution of responses (e.g., very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied). However, for ease of presentation in the text and figures that follow, we simply report the percentage of parents in each sector who say they are “very satisfied” with a particular aspect of their child’s school. An interactive graphic at www.educationnext.org provides additional information.

Findings on Parental Satisfaction

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Charter schools vs. other sectors. Charter-school parents report higher satisfaction levels than parents with children in assigned-district schools. The size of that difference varies, however, depending on the specific aspect of the school under consideration. Compared to parents at assigned-district schools, charter-school parents are 6 percentage points more likely to say they are “very satisfied” with teachers at the school, 13 percentage points more likely to be “very satisfied” with academic standards, and 10 percentage points more likely to be “very satisfied” with both school discipline and communication with families.

Charter-school parents also report slightly higher levels of satisfaction than parents whose children attend a district school of choice. However, the differences, which vary between 2 percentage points and 5 percentage points, are not statistically significant.

Charter-school parents report lower levels of satisfaction than parents of children at private schools. Differences in satisfaction levels vary between 14 percentage points and 18 percentage points, depending on the aspect of the school.

Lowest- vs. highest-income groups. Parent satisfaction levels vary by household income, with large differences observed for families with incomes of $30,000 or less and those with incomes of $100,000 or more (Figure 3). High-income parents are more likely than low-income parents to express satisfaction with charter schools: 72 percent say they are “very satisfied” with their child’s school compared to 62 percent of low-income parents. We find a similar pattern for the other four aspects of the school—teacher quality, academic standards, discipline, and communication.

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Despite these differences, both low- and high-income parents whose children attend charter schools are considerably more satisfied than comparable parents at assigned-district schools. When asked to assess the school itself, the share of low-income parents saying they are “very satisfied” is 10 percentage points higher at charters than at assigned-district schools. For high-income parents, this difference is also 10 percentage points. Averaging across all five assessment indicators, the percentage of low-income parents saying they are “very satisfied” is 9 percentage points higher at charters than at assigned-district schools. Among high-income parents, that difference is 14 percentage points.

Parental satisfaction with charter schools and district schools of choice is similar for both low- and high-income families. These differences are not statistically significant. Both high- and low-income families express higher levels of satisfaction with their school if it is in the private sector rather than the charter sector. The difference in satisfaction levels between a charter school and a private school is 15 percentage points for low-income families and 8 percentage points for high-income families. The latter difference is not statistically significant. Averaging across all indicators, the difference in the share of low-income families who are “very satisfied” with aspects of their child’s private school is 25 percentage points, which is similar to the difference of 22 percentage points among high-income families. This suggests that school vouchers or other programmatic interventions that expand families’ access to private schools have a good chance of boosting levels of parental satisfaction.

Age of student. Because the data include information about students’ ages, we are able to compare degrees of satisfaction by grade span in each sector. Students age 10 and under are assumed to be attending elementary schools, those age 11 to 13 are assumed to be in middle school, and those who are 14 to 18 are assumed to be in high school. These estimates are not perfectly accurate, but even this rough classification system allows for estimates of the extent to which parental assessments vary by their child’s grade level.

We find that charter-school parents of elementary-age children are more satisfied with their school than parents whose children are in middle or high school. Whereas 72 percent of those with an elementary-age child are “very satisfied,” only 62 percent of those with children in the middle-school years and just 56 percent of parents of students in high school are similarly satisfied. However, for all three age groups, charter-school parents are more satisfied than parents at assigned-district schools. By student age, charter-school parents are more likely to report they are “very satisfied” with their school by 6, 5, and 9 percentage points, respectively, compared to parents whose children attend an assigned-district school. Across all five satisfaction indicators, the differences are, on average, 8, 5, and 11 percentage points for parents of children at the three age levels, respectively. In other words, the charter advantage, from the perspective of parents, is at least as great at the high-school level as at the elementary level. If charters want to mobilize parental support, they might consider greater investments in the final years of schooling.

Urban, suburban, and rural regions. One finds little variation in the degree of satisfaction with charter schools by region: across the country, more than 60 percent of parents in urban, suburban, and rural communities say they are very satisfied with the charter school that their child is attending. However, the charter-school advantage vis-à-vis assigned-district schools is somewhat greater in urban and rural settings than in suburban ones. In both urban and rural communities, 64 percent of parents say they are “very satisfied” with their child’s charter school, compared to 54 percent of urban parents and 56 percent of rural parents who say they are “very satisfied” with their child’s assigned-district school. By contrast, the difference in the percentage of charter-school and assigned-district-school parents who say they are very satisfied is only 4 percentage points in suburban areas. It is worth considering, however, that suburban parents may well have already exercised school choice as part of their house-hunting process, by choosing their neighborhood based in part on where their child or future children would be assigned to go to school. Private schools generate similarly higher levels of satisfaction than choice and district schools in all three types of communities, but significant differences between charters and chosen district schools are not observed in any of the three areas.

Racial and ethnic differences. White and Asian families are clearly more satisfied with their charter schools than African American families, and somewhat more satisfied than Hispanic families. Among charter-school parents, 70 percent of Asian parents and 67 percent of white parents say they are “very satisfied,” compared to 63 percent for Hispanic parents and 54 percent for African American parents. The differences in reported levels of satisfaction between charter and assigned-district schools are wider among Asian and white families, too: for assigned-district schools, the difference is 16 percentage points for Asian families and 9 for white families, compared to a statistically insignificant 6 percentage points and 5 percentage points for African American and Hispanic parents, respectively.

Comparing levels of satisfaction among charter-school parents to parents at district schools of choice, there are no significant differences by race or ethnicity. With the exception of Asian parents, parents of all ethnicities prefer private schools to charter schools by a double-digit margin.

Interpretation

Our findings echo those reported by the 2016 Education Next survey, which examined the opinions of parents whose children attend public, charter, and private schools (see “ What Do Parents Think of Their Children’s Schools? ,” features , Spring 2017). That survey found that private-school parents are much happier with their children’s schools than parents at district schools. The study also found charter parents, though not as pleased as private-school parents, are more satisfied than district parents.

District schools of choice: The magnet school. When comparing satisfaction levels with charter schools to district schools of choice, it is helpful to keep in mind that magnet schools serve approximately two-thirds of the students in district schools of choice. This can be inferred from other surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, which have found that 2011–12 enrollments in magnet schools constitute 2.1 million students, slightly more than the 1.8 million students attending charter schools. If parents are accurately reporting the type of school their child is attending, roughly 6 percent of all students are going to magnet schools. That implies that two-thirds of the 9 percent of all students said by parents to be attending a chosen district school are attending magnet schools.

Unlike charter schools, which usually must admit students by lottery if they are over-subscribed, many magnet schools have admission standards. Others offer specialized curricular programs that are expected to promote racial integration by attracting students from all racial and ethnic backgrounds to seek admission. According to the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) of 2011–12, a nationally representative survey of schools conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, 28 percent of magnet schools give admissions preferences to academically gifted students, three times the rate of charter schools. Likewise, nearly half of magnet schools (45 percent) are said to have special emphases in the performing arts, math and sciences, or foreign languages, while only 12 percent of charter schools are said to have a similar emphasis. Nearly a quarter of magnet schools report administering admissions tests as part of the application process. In contrast, only 8 percent of charter schools report doing so. Conversely, about 5 percent of charter schools are dedicated to serving students with special needs or at-risk students, whereas less than 1 percent of magnet schools do the same.

The SASS also suggests that magnet schools receive many more resources than charter schools, on average. For example, teacher salaries, even after incorporating cost-of-living adjustments, are 5 percent to 12 percent higher at magnet schools than in charter schools, on average. And almost all magnet schools have a library media center, while only half of charters do.

Despite the greater exclusivity and resource advantages enjoyed by magnet schools, parental satisfaction with magnet schools and the other district schools of choice is no greater—and may be less—than the level of satisfaction of parents with a child at a charter school. This does not demonstrate that charter schools are superior to magnet schools, as we do not have any direct evidence about school quality independent of parental perceptions. But if parental satisfaction is a desirable, policy-relevant outcome in its own right, the data suggest that charters are a viable—and perhaps the preferred—option for those seeking to expand choice within the public sector.

Private schools. By a wide margin, parents with children in the private sector express much higher levels of satisfaction than parents in the assigned-district sector. That certainly helps to explain the viability of a sector that charges tuition when other sectors are offering seemingly comparable services without charge. Private schools are also providing higher levels of satisfaction than either charter schools or district schools of choice. These choice-based schools pose a greater threat to the private sector because the differences in satisfaction level are, roughly speaking, only half as large as between private schools and the assigned-district sector. Yet the high level of satisfaction with private schools provides encouragement for those who support school voucher initiatives, which increase access to the private sector by paying some or all of students’ tuition.

Assigned-district schools. The assigned-district school, which currently provides services to 76 percent of all students, may be an endangered species. Since all three choice sectors—private, charter, and district schools of choice—are offering parents educational options that are considerably more satisfying, one must expect the market demand for educational alternatives to increase. It will take a strong political defense of the district-operated school system, which assigns children to the specific place where they are to be educated, to thwart an underlying trend toward greater choice that has gathered support among the families that are most directly affected.

Albert Cheng is a post-doctoral fellow at the Program on Education Policy and Governance (PEPG) at the Harvard Kennedy School. Paul E. Peterson, senior editor of Education Next, is professor of government at Harvard University and director of PEPG.

For a look at findings on parental satisfaction using data from the 2016 Education Next survey, see “ What Do Parents Think of Their Children’s Schools? .”

This article appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of Education Next . Suggested citation format:

Cheng, A., and Peterson, P.E. (2017). How Satisfied Are Parents With Their Children’s Schools? New evidence from a U.S. Department of Education survey . Education Next , 17(2), 20-27.

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Wisconsin School Breaks Up Lunchtime Cliques With Assigned Seating

Emily Files

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Kylie Burger (right), a University School of Milwaukee student, eats lunch with band director Dain Shuler. The school has a long-standing tradition of assigned seating at lunch. A staff member is also required to sit at each table to help facilitate conversation. Emily Files/WUWM hide caption

Kylie Burger (right), a University School of Milwaukee student, eats lunch with band director Dain Shuler. The school has a long-standing tradition of assigned seating at lunch. A staff member is also required to sit at each table to help facilitate conversation.

There's a scene in the movie Mean Girls where new student Cady Heron gets a lesson from her friend, Janice Ian, about the social hierarchy of the high school cafeteria.

"Where you sit in the cafeteria is crucial," Janice says. She then maps out the cliques, including preps, jocks and, of course, the "plastics."

The scene is an exaggeration of a common experience: the stress of finding your place in a school cafeteria. But Wisconsin resident Smitha Chintamaneni can't relate.

"I've never had that experience," she said. "I've never been at the cool kids' table or the nerd table. We never had that at my school."

Reflections On Friends, Hardship And 4 Years Of High School

Reflections On Friends, Hardship And 4 Years Of High School

Chintamaneni is an alum of the University School of Milwaukee , a private K-12 school in the suburb of River Hills. One of the most unusual things about the University School is its long-standing tradition of assigned lunch seating.

For new students, the seating rules can be a welcome relief. Sophomore Kylie Burger went to public elementary and middle schools before coming to the University School her freshman year of high school.

"At first I was really hyped," said Kylie, 15. "I moved a lot with middle school, and usually I would sit alone. So I was excited to not sit alone at a table all year."

The students are randomly assigned to eight-person circular tables, which rotate depending on that day's schedule. Each has a mix of kids from different grades, with one teacher whose job is to get the table talking. Kylie says it doesn't always go as planned.

"Sometimes it gets super awkward at tables," she explained. "Like the conversation goes, 'OK, what did you just come out of?' 'Math.' 'OK.' And that was really kind of where it ends."

But administrators say a little awkwardness is worth the trouble. Dean of Students Charlie Housiaux says forcing students to get out of their social comfort zones builds relationships that improve the school culture.

"It's a really valuable way for students to get to know each other, for students to meet new friends and keep the community as inclusive as possible," Housiaux said.

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High school students at lunch in the University School of Milwaukee's cafeteria. Students are assigned seats, along with staff, to foster a positive school culture. Emily Files/WUWM hide caption

High school students at lunch in the University School of Milwaukee's cafeteria. Students are assigned seats, along with staff, to foster a positive school culture.

University of Kansas education professor Suzanne Rice edited a book that explores the social dynamics of school lunch. She says the University School's assigned seating strategy is rare — but maybe it shouldn't be.

"A meal is the venue over which adults get to know one another and develop their social skills. But we treat that utterly cavalierly in most schools," Rice said. "I would urge schools to investigate what's going on in your own lunchroom. Think about how you could organize students' lunchroom experience to better reflect the values that you hope your students are acquiring."

One Wisconsin public school asked those questions a few years ago. Gibraltar Elementary in Fish Creek was having problems with bullying in the cafeteria, according to assistant principal Tim Mulrain. He says a school parent told them about the University School's assigned seating. They decided to try it , although Gibraltar did not require teachers to participate. Mulrain says the strategy transformed the lunchroom into a more welcoming and less chaotic space.

Philando Castile's Mother Wipes Out School Lunch Debt, Continuing Son's Legacy

Philando Castile's Mother Wipes Out School Lunch Debt, Continuing Son's Legacy

"We haven't had any major referrals, any major discipline problems since the inception of the program," Mulrain said. "That was a major change. On top of that, we see students aren't rushing through the lunch line, they're not having anxiety about who they're going to sit with."

At the University School, Kylie said the assigned seating doesn't fix everything. Like any high school, there are still cliques.

"The lunch system is more kind of a relief from [the cliques,]" Burger said. "It doesn't reduce it in any way, from my experience. But it definitely, like, gives you a break."

Burger said there are times she would rather sit with her friends. But she thinks it's a good thing that at this school, no one sits alone.

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The Ultimate Guide to a Public School Transfer (Open Enrollment)

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schools with assigned

Posted on March 3, 2021 Modified on February 14, 2024  Posted by National School Choice Week Team

schools with assigned

Tens of millions of kids across America attend traditional public schools across all 50 states. Maybe you went to one, or maybe your child attends a traditional public school. Perhaps you even decided to rent or buy a home or apartment because you wanted your child to attend the traditional public school nearby. But what if you want to make a public school transfer?

Most students who attend traditional public schools are assigned to attend these schools by school district officials – based on school boundary maps and zoning. These schools are tuition-free and must accept all students, regardless of their previous academic performance or special learning needs.

What do you need to know about public school choice?

Get a quick rundown.

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But did you know that traditional public schools can also be schools of choice? You might just be able to choose a traditional public school outside of your neighborhood or zone , and still pay no tuition! As you’ll see below, most states today have rules allowing for school transfers, boundary exceptions, or some type of public school choice , which is often referred to as open enrollment . These rules make it possible for parents to choose a great public school for them, whether it’s in their neighborhood or across town!

Sign up to learn even more about School Choice in your state!

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What is Public School Open Enrollment?

Open enrollment is an important form of public school choice. It allows parents to choose public schools outside of their assigned neighborhood. That way, families can choose the best free public school for their child, even if it’s not in their zip code.

Each state has different open enrollment laws for public schools. Allowing students to attend other traditional public schools within their assigned district is called intradistrict enrollment. Allowing students to attend public schools outside their district is called interdistrict enrollment.

All 50 states permit public school transfers in at least some cases, but access to open enrollment varies widely by state. Several states, like West Virginia and Kansas, have passed laws expanding open enrollment policies over the past few years, so a public school transfer may be more available to you than it was in the past!

If open enrollment is available to you, you can take advantage of it by visiting multiple schools and discovering which is the best school of choice for your family. You can use our free Schools Near Me tool to find various public schools to consider. After all, public schools aren’t all the same. They may differ in learning methods and one may just “feel different” than another to you.

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Common Questions about Traditional Public Schools

How do parents feel about public school open enrollment.

According to recent polling by Morning Consult , more than 70% of school parents say they support students being able to select and transfer to a public school of their choice in another district. 

How many public school districts are in the U.S.? And, how many public school teachers are there?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 13,300 public school districts in the U.S . And, there are more than 3.8 million full and part-time teachers in public schools.

What public school am I zoned for?

Often, your zip code determines what school district you are in. If you are unsure, you can search for your school district . Once you know your district, you can visit the district website to find your assigned school. Don’t forget that there may be open enrollment options that allow you to attend any school in the district, or even schools outside of the district!

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How are public schools managed?

Traditional public schools are run by local school districts . These school districts are usually overseen by elected school boards . All public schools must follow education laws in the state. Each state has its own teacher certification policies. Usually, all or most teachers in public schools must be certified by the state to teach.

How much does public school cost?

Traditional public schools don’t charge tuition or entrance fees. The costs for public schools are paid by taxpayers in the form of local, state, and federal taxes. You can search for what your public school spends at Project Nickel . You can also explore the average per-pupil spending in your state’s public schools below .

How much is a public school teacher salary?

As of the 2021-2022 school year, the average public school teacher salary was about $66,397 .

Public Schools of Choice in Your State

Every state has traditional public schools, but does your state offer open enrollment, which allows you to choose schools outside your neighborhood, zone, or district? Check out your state’s parent guide or scroll below to learn whether you can use open enrollment to make a public school transfer. You can also contact your local district to learn more.

In 12  states parents may be able to select any traditional public school for their child, in any school district.

In 21  states, there are at least some situations where schools are required to participate in open enrollment. For example, some states guarantee open enrollment to families who wish to transfer out of a low-performing school, or families who live too far from their assigned school. In these states, parents meeting certain requirements are guaranteed choice. Open enrollment may be optional in other cases.

An additional 16 states have allowed districts and schools to decide whether to participate in open enrollment. In these cases, families must request and receive school district approval to use open enrollment. Access to public school transfers in these states vary widely – in some, transfers are readily available while in others, transfers are rarely permitted.

In 1 state, North Carolina, open enrollment is generally not permitted, but there are still select cases where families have access to “choice zones” or transfers.

⬤ Parents of students meeting certain criteria may choose ⬤ Parents are free to choose any public school they wish ⬤ In general, the state does not permit open enrollment, but families can choose in rare exceptions ⬤ Parents must receive school district approval to choose ⬤ Parents can apply to any school via a lottery

Source: Education Commission of the States, 2023; Independent research by NSCW

In most states, families have some “open enrollment” options that allow parents to choose traditional public schools outside of the schools assigned to their children by their districts. In Alabama, you can transfer your child to a different public school if you are zoned for a “ failing school .” In other cases, if you choose a traditional public school, it will likely need to be the school assigned by your district.

The average per-pupil spending in Alabama public schools is $10,683 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Alabama State Department of Education.

Alaska has limited open enrollment laws for public schools. What this means is that parents of students who are assigned to a particular neighborhood school may in some cases be able to transfer their children to another school in their district. For example, the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District has an online application portal where families can apply for a school outside their zoned “attendance area.” In other cases, children may be required to attend the school assigned to them by their district. Contact your school district to learn more.

The average per-pupil spending in Alaska public schools is $19,540 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the   Alaska Department of Education & Early Development.

Arizona has unrestricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that you can send your child to any public school in Arizona, regardless of where you live or where the school is located, as long as the school has capacity. You can take advantage of this option by visiting multiple public schools near you and discovering which is the best fit for your family. Importantly, Arizona has a law prohibiting public schools from charging tuition for a transfer student , so this option is always free.

Each district’s open enrollment policies must be available in English and Spanish, and must include transportation provisions. These include transportation up to about 20 miles each wa y for students with a disability or Individualized Education Program (IEP) , and can include other students, too. For example, you can read about the open enrollment process in the Scottsdale Unified School District .

The average per-pupil spending in Arizona public schools is $9,611 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Arizona Department of Education and Office of the Governor – School Choice.

One Arizona public school leader we interviewed, Candice Stump of Coyote Springs Elementary School, described her school’s mission this way: “We’re about educating every kid. We’re a co-teaching school. We’re an inclusive school. All of our kids get the opportunity, third through sixth grade, to be gifted and talented or what we would refer to as enriched. I think there’s a lot of misconceptions that for a good education you have to skim the top and only have those kids attend the schools.”

In Arkansas, there are some limits on open enrollment, like seat capacity, but families may be able to transfer to a public school of choice beyond their neighborhood school. The LEARNS Act , passed in 2023, eliminated a cap on the number of students allowed to transfer, making open enrollment more accessible to families statewide.

If you would like to participate in open enrollment, contact your local district. Arkansas law prohibits districts from charging tuition for transfer students, so open enrollment is always free. Generally, however, transportation is not covered by the school you use open enrollment to select, unless that school district is under facilities distress or a special agreement is made between the receiving and sending districts.

The average per-pupil spending in Arkansas public schools is $11,266 . Find out more at the Arkansas Department of Education or view a school choice transfer application to get started.

California:

In California, parents of students assigned to low-performing schools may be able to transfer their children to another school based on the state’s limited open enrollment laws. In general, school districts in California can also set their own open enrollment policies, so parents can check with their local district to learn more. As a real-world example, the William S. Hart Union High School District only accepts transfers within its district for a few student groups, including victims of bullying, foster youth, and children of active military.

Parents may be able to request that the school they select through open enrollment provides transportation assistance.

The average per-pupil spending in California public schools is $14,985 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the California Department of Education.

Colorado has unrestricted open enrollment for public schools. What this means is that you may be able to send your child to any public school in Colorado, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. You can take advantage of this important option by visiting multiple public schools near you and discovering which is the best fit for your family. Since Colorado has a law prohibiting public schools from charging tuition for transfer students, open enrollment is always a free option for families.

As a real-world example of the transfer process, you may wish to view the online application for transfers within the Cherry Creek School District. Schools may prioritize the transfer requests of certain student groups , such as students wishing to transfer out of low-performing schools. Also note that, in Colorado, transfer students may need to reapply each year.

The average per-pupil spending in Colorado is $12,255 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Colorado Department of Education.

Connecticut:

Connecticut has restricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that parents in some Connecticut cities may be able to choose traditional public schools outside of their districts. This “Open Choice Program” applies in Hartford , Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London , and may apply in other cities. Transfers within districts are sometimes an option as well. As a real-world example, you may wish to view the intradistrict transfer application for Norwalk Public Schools . 

Connecticut prohibits districts from charging tuition for transfer students, so open enrollment is always a free option for families. If you live in an area of Connecticut with open enrollment, you can take advantage of this option by visiting multiple public schools near you and discovering which is the best fit for your family. Keep in mind that local boards of education decide whether to provide transportation for students participating in open enrollment.

The average per-pupil spending in Connecticut is $22,769 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Connecticut State Department of Education.

Delaware has unrestricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that you can send your child to any public school in Delaware, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. As long as the school has room , your child should be accepted. You can take advantage of this valuable option by visiting multiple public schools near you and discovering which is the best fit for your family.

While districts are not allowed to charge tuition for transfer students, parents are responsible for transportation of students participating in open enrollment. Families interested in submitting choice applications for participating public school districts in Delaware can do so online at SchoolChoiceDE . The deadline for applications is usually around mid-January for the upcoming school year. In Delaware, districts are required to post their open enrollment policies on their website, so you may also want to check out your district’s website!

The average per-pupil spending in Delaware is $17,448 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Department of Education.

Florida has unrestricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that you can send your child to any public school in Florida, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. Each school must post information about capacity and how to apply on its website, and schools are not allowed to charge tuition .

Families can apply for a transportation scholarship that can cover transportation costs and can help with the expenses of attending a public school that is different from the one the student has been assigned to. Currently, approximately 4,450 students participate in this program. Learn more at Step Up for Students .

For a real-world example, check out Polk County Public Schools’ process for open enrollment. Generally, parents are responsible for transportation of students participating in open enrollment.

The average per-pupil spending in Florida is $10,401 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Florida Department of Education.

In Georgia, families can send their child to any public school within their school district as long as the school has room and has been open for at least four years. Schools cannot charge tuition for within-district transfers.

Also, in some cases, families can choose public schools outside their district; contact your local school district to see if this is an option for you. For a real-world example of the transfer process and timeline, check out  Atlanta Public Schools’ application process . Note that parents are usually responsible for transportation of students participating in open enrollment.

The average per-pupil spending in Georgia is $12,145 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Georgia Department of Education.

In Hawaii, the state operates as a single school district divided into 15 “complex areas .” Hawaii parents should contact the state education agency about its open enrollment policies , and whether they can consider schools outside their assigned area. A “geographic exception” transfer may be allowed, for example, if a student wishes to attend a public school with a special program of study not offered in their home school . Public schools are not allowed to charge tuition for transfer students.

The average per-pupil spending in Hawaii is $16,550 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Hawaii State Department of Education.

Idaho has unrestricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that you can likely send your child to any public school in Idaho regardless of where you live or where the school is located. You can take advantage of this valuable option by visiting multiple public schools near you and discovering which is the best fit for your family. For a real-world example of the transfer process, check out Boise School District’s application guidelines . Parents are responsible for transportation of students participating in open enrollment. 

A law passed in 2023 updates Idaho’s enrollment law and makes a few changes. For example, while transfer students previously had to reapply annually, the new law doesn’t require families to reapply after two years at a public school of their choice.

Also, don’t forget that through the state’s Advanced Opportunities program , every public school student in Idaho is allocated $4,125 to use in grades 7-12. These funds can be used for dual credits, Advanced Placement Exam fees, professional certifications, workforce training, or other qualified expenses.

The average per-pupil spending in Idaho is $9,053 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Idaho Department of Education.

Illinois has limited open enrollment laws . In some cases, parents can visit multiple schools and select the one best for their child. Illinois families should check with their local district to see if it is an option to transfer schools within their district. In general, Illinois families cannot transfer to public schools outside their district. In the limited cases where a transfer to another district is possible, families may be charged fees.

For a real-world example of the transfer process, check out the application materials for intradistrict transfers in the Community Consolidated School District 15 .

The average per-pupil spending in Illinois is $18,316 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Illinois State Board of Education.

In Indiana, parents have restricted open enrollment . What this means is that Indianapolis Public Schools requires schools within the district to allow transfers. And in other districts, students can request to transfer to any public school of choice, provided the school has a policy allowing for open enrollment. 75,000 students participated in interdistrict open enrollment in 2021!

In particular, parents can request that their child transfer to another district if there are crowded conditions at their current school or if another school district offers curriculum important to their child’s vocational aspirations. If you would like to participate in open enrollment, contact your local district to learn more.

For a real-world example, check out Noblesville Schools’ transfer process . Keep in mind that some districts may charge tuition for transfer students.

The average per-pupil spending in Indiana is $11,538 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Indiana Department of Education.

Iowa has flexible open enrollment for public school. Based on Iowa’s recently-expanded laws, families can generally apply to any traditional public school district at any time during the year . Of course, schools may deny a request if there is not enough classroom space. Also, districts can set their own policies for transfers within their district.

For a real-world example of the transfer process, check out Davenport Community Schools’ open enrollment application.

Some students participating in open enrollment, including those meeting certain income guidelines, are provided transportation to their public school of choice by their assigned district. Once a student’s open enrollment request is approved, the family does  not need to re-apply each school year.  

The average per-pupil spending in Iowa is $13,835 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Legal Aid .

Currently, some school districts in Kansas may allow open enrollment. Since districts currently set their own open enrollment policies in Kansas, parents should check with their local school district for more information. For a real-world example, check out Shawnee Mission School District’s transfer policies. When a student participates in open enrollment, the two school districts must work out a transportation plan to share costs amongst themselves.

Open enrollment will soon be expanding in Kansas! A bill passed in 2022 will allow students to transfer to any public school district with the room to take them, starting in 2024.

The average per-pupil spending in Kansas is $13,449 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Kansas State Department of Education.

Kentucky has more than 170 public school districts and flexible open enrollment for public school. What this means is that in many cases you can choose to send your child to a public school in your district other than the one you have been assigned. Additionally, as of July 2022 , all Kentucky families are able to apply to public schools in other districts. If you would like to participate in open enrollment, contact your local district to learn more. In some cases, receiving districts in Kentucky charge fees for out-of-district students. 

Open enrollment is a valuable school choice. Just remember to ask the deadline and application process for any public school district you are interested in transferring into. For example, open enrollment in Fayette County Public Schools usually takes place after spring break each year. Additionally, keep in mind that Kentucky high school students who transfer may be required to wait a year before participating in athletics at their new school. 

If you live in Jefferson County, note that the large district’s assignment plan will be dramatically changing starting in the 2023-2024 school year. “Choice zones” will be established to give families more options near their homes and expand magnet offerings.

The average per-pupil spending in Kentucky is $12,126 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Kentucky Department of Education.

In most cases in Louisiana, each district decides whether it will participate in open enrollment . So, Louisiana parents should check with their local school district if they wish to participate in open enrollment. The state only requires districts to offer open enrollment in certain circumstances, such as when students wish to transfer from a school in academic distress to a school that is not in academic distress. New Orleans families wishing to transfer schools can find information and apply online at Nola Public Schools .

Students participating in open enrollment are provided transportation by their public school of choice if that school is closer to the student’s residence than their assigned school.

The average per-pupil spending in Louisiana is $13,397 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Louisiana Department of Education.

In Maine, the state allows districts to set their own open enrollment policies . So, Maine parents should check with their district if they would like to transfer their child to a different public school. For instance, Portland Public Schools District only allows families to choose a school “out of neighborhood” in a few circumstances, such as when there has been documented harassment at the assigned school. When a transfer is allowed, districts are not permitted to charge tuition.

If the reason for a family participating in open enrollment in another district is because their district does not offer a school, their district provides transportation . In other situations, the parents are responsible for transportation.

The average per-pupil spending in Maine is $17,671 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Maine Department of Education.

Most states have some form of open enrollment. Unfortunately, Maryland only offers public open enrollment in a few circumstances. For example, a student may be able to request a school transfer if they move during the school year, if they are a child of an employee at the school they wish to transfer into, or if a health professional recommends a different school environment.

For a real-world example of the transfer process, check out the “Change of School Assignment Booklet” for Montgomery Public Schools, Maryland’s largest district.

The average per-pupil spending in Maryland is $16,417 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Maryland State Department of Education.

Massachusetts:

In Massachusetts, each district decides whether it will participate in open enrollment . For the 2021-2022 school year, 170 Massachusetts districts (53% of districts statewide ) chose to participate. Some of these districts, however, only allowed transfers for certain grades. If you are interested in transferring your child to a different public school than you are assigned, you should talk to your local school district to learn whether it is available for you. In Massachusetts, districts cannot charge tuition for transfer students.

For an example of the transfer process and timeline in your state, check out Boston Public Schools’ transfer guidelines. Parents are generally responsible for transportation when their student is participating in open enrollment, unless the transfer addresses racial imbalances or the student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch.

The average per-pupil spending in Massachusetts is $ 20,376 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

In Michigan, districts can generally choose whether to participate in open enrollment . Intradistrict open enrollment is only mandatory when a school is unaccredited for three years in a row. So, depending on the district and their school’s performance, parents may have the option to transfer their child to a different public school. If so, they are responsible for transporting their child to that school.

Since Michigan districts set their own guidelines, dates and application procedures for school transfers can vary greatly. For example,  Farmington Public Schools’ application deadline  was January 27, 2023 for the 2023-2024 school year. 

The average per-pupil spending in Michigan is $14,085 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Michigan Department of Education.

Minnesota offers some open enrollment.  Parents can choose a traditional public school outside of their district based on the state’s open enrollment laws, and also may be able to choose another school within their district , depending on their local school board. In the 2020-2021 school year, about 10% of Minnesota students used open enrollment! 

Since no two public schools are exactly the same, open enrollment can valuably extend a family’s educational options and help them find the best match for their child. If you are interested in this choice, note that transfer applications are usually due by mid-January for the following fall . In most transfers to schools in a different district, the receiving school district provides transportation once the student is within the district border, and can reimburse income-eligible students for their travel there. Minnesota districts are not permitted to charge tuition for transfer students.

The average per-pupil spending in Minnesota is $14,378 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Minnesota Department of Education.

Mississippi:

In Mississippi, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies ; the state only requires districts to offer open enrollment if parents live 30 miles away from their child’s assigned school. For a real-world example of the transfer process, check out Jackson Public Schools’ guidelines for applying for an in-district or district-to-district transfer.

When an agreement between school districts is made allowing a student to participate in open enrollment, it must include transportation provisions. Keep in mind that, in some cases in Mississippi, receiving districts  charge tuition .

The average per-pupil spending in Mississippi is $10,170 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Mississippi Department of Education.

In Missouri, parents have restricted open enrollment . Some Missouri parents, such as those who live in school districts that have lost state accreditation, may be able to choose a traditional public school in another district for their child. In some cases, including when transferring from a school that is unaccredited, the district provides transportation .

In general, Missouri districts can set their own guidelines for transfers within districts. So, dates and application procedures for transfers can vary. For an example of the transfer process and timeline, check out Springfield Public Schools’ guidelines.

The average per-pupil spending in Missouri is $11,865 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Currently in Montana, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies; Montana only requires districts to offer open enrollment if parents or guardians live too far from their child’s assigned school. So, if you wish to make a public school transfer, contact your local school district to see if this is an option for you.

For an example of what the transfer process may look like, check out Missoula County Public Schools’ guidelines for attending a high school other than the one you are zoned for. When an agreement between school districts is made allowing a student to participate in open enrollment, it includes transportation provisions.

A bill passed in 2023 will make important changes to public school transfer options for the 2024-2025 school year onward. The new law standardizes open enrollment in public schools across the state , making it easier (and guaranteeing it is free) for families to choose the best public school fit for their child. 

The average per-pupil spending in Montana is $13,299 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Nebraska has flexible open enrollment for public schools. What this means is that you are likely able to send your child to any public district in Nebraska, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. For a real-world example, see how Grand Island Public Schools accepts students outside of the city’s limits. You can also read the Nebraska Department of Education’s answers to frequently asked questions about switching school districts in your state. Transfers between schools within Nebraska districts are common as well.

In 2023, Nebraska improved transparency about open enrollment, signing a bill requiring school districts to post their open enrollment policies on their websites .

Transportation is typically the responsibility of the parents or provided by the receiving district for a fee unless the student is eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, part of a diversity focus program, or a student with learning disabilities, in which case transportation is typically free .

The average per-pupil spending in Nebraska is $13,826 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Nebraska Department of Education.

In general in Nevada, each district can set its own open enrollment policies . So, Nevada parents should check with their local district if they would like to transfer their child. If they choose to participate in open enrollment, the school to which they were assigned will cover transportation costs .

For an example of the transfer process and timeline in Nevada, check out Clark County School District’s change of school assignment application .

The average per-pupil spending in Nevada is $10,450 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Nevada Department of Education.

New Hampshire:

In New Hampshire, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. New Hampshire parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district to see if this is an option. In 2021, the state made this process more defined for parents if their student is experiencing “manifest educational hardship.”

For a real-world example of the transfer process and timeline in New Hampshire, check out Kearsarge Regional School District’s guidelines for transfer requests.

If the public school of choice is within the same district, transportation is provided . If it is in a different school district, parents are responsible for transportation.

The average per-pupil spending in New Hampshire is $19,433 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the New Hampshire Department of Education.

New Jersey:

In New Jersey, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. New Jersey parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district or search choice districts at the New Jersey Department of Education. For the 2023-2024 school year, there were more than 120 participating choice districts! Each district has a unique choice application that families should submit directly to that district.

For students living farther than 2 or 2.5 miles from their public school of choice but closer than 20 miles, the sending district is responsible for transporting the child to their new school .

The average per-pupil spending in New Jersey is $22,160 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the New Jersey Department of Education. Families in Newark may also wish to explore public schools using My Schools Newark .

New Mexico:

New Mexico has restricted open enrollment . In New Mexico, parents who live near low-performing schools may transfer their children to another school inside or outside their district. Parents in other circumstances should check with their local school district. Timing and procedures for open enrollment may vary by district. For a real-world example, check out Albuquerque Public Schools’ transfer guidelines .

If a student participating in open enrollment is choosing a different school within the same district, the district will provide transportation or reimburse parents’ costs . If the family selects a school in a different school district, parents are responsible for transportation.

The average per-pupil spending in New Mexico is $12,127 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the New Mexico Public Education Department.

In New York, each district decides whether it will participate in open enrollment . Open enrollment is a valuable choice that refers to whether parents can send their children to any public school, regardless of where it is located or what their zip code is. If you would like to participate in open enrollment, check with your local school district to see if this is available.

The New York City Department of Education lists several reasons families may request school transfers. These include an accessibility need, a sibling being at a different school, a travel hardship or move, or a safety concern.

The average per-pupil spending in New York is $26,571 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the New York State Education Department.

North Carolina:

Most states have some form of open enrollment, which refers to whether parents can send their child to a public school other than their assigned school. Unfortunately, North Carolina families generally do not have open enrollment options.

There are, however, a few circumstances where a transfer might be possible. For example, a student may be able to request a school transfer if they move during the school year, if they are a child of an employee at the school they wish to transfer into, or if they are experiencing a unique hardship that would be mitigated by a transfer. For a real-world example, you may wish to check out Lenoir County Public Schools’ transfer request form .

There are also some districts, like Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools , that have “choice zones” giving families a few options of schools to choose from.

The average per-pupil spending in North Carolina is $10,655 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

North Dakota:

As of 2023, North Dakota offers some newly expanded open enrollment options for families. Now, North Dakota parents can transfer their child to any public school district; districts may only deny applications for a few reasons, such as lack of capacity. For information about whether transfers within their district are available, families should contact their local school district.

For an example of what the transfer process may look like, check out West Fargo Public Schools’ in-district transfer request guidelines . Note that in some cases in North Dakota, fees may be attached to transfers .

In some cases, such as when a transferring student was a victim of violence, transportation assistance may be available . 

The average per-pupil spending in North Dakota is $15,140 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

Ohio offers some open enrollment for public school. Based on Ohio’s laws, each school district in Ohio must have a clear policy regarding in-district transfer applications. For example, check out Willoughby-Eastlake’s application form for transfers within the district. Annually, each district can choose whether to allow for transfers between districts. So, contact your local school district if you wish to participate in open enrollment. Note that, in some cases in Ohio, there may be fees attached to student transfers .

In most cases, parents are responsible for transportation to the new public school of choice, or at least for getting their student to a regular bus stop along the school’s route. Low-income families or those participating in a court-approved desegregation plan may be reimbursed for transportation to that bus stop or provided transportation directly, respectively.

The average per-pupil spending in Ohio is $14,613. Find out more about public schools in your state at the Ohio Department of Education.

In Oklahoma, students can request a transfer to a school in any district, regardless of where they live. What’s more, public school districts cannot charge students tuition . The state does allow districts to set capacity limits for transfer students, and sometimes spots are only available in certain grades . For an example of what the transfer process may look like, check out Norman Public Schools’ transfer guidelines . If their transfer request is denied, parents can appeal to the local school board to review the case.

If parents request it, their children can be transported by the public school of choice from a stop within that school’s school district, provided parents transport them to the district route. Alternatively, the assigned school district can create an agreement with the new school district to cooperate on transportation. For parents in Oklahoma who want to know more about open enrollment in their local district, Every Kid Counts Oklahoma offers a comprehensive list of guidelines and key information that may be helpful in your search.

The average per-pupil spending in Oklahoma is $10,498 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Unfortunately, Oregon currently has very limited open enrollment policies for public schools. The state of Oregon did establish temporary open enrollment between school districts in 2012 to support school choice, but the policy ended in 2019.

While open enrollment is not widely available to Oregon families, parents may still request an interdistrict transfer (which requires the consent of both the sending and receiving district). Some districts, such as Reynolds School District, also allow families to request an “area exception” for which school they attend within their district.

The average per-pupil spending in Oregon is $13,875 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Oregon Department of Education.

Pennsylvania:

In Pennsylvania, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. So, Pennsylvania parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district.

For a real-world example, check out Lancaster School District’s guidelines for both intradistrict and interdistrict transfers.

The average per-pupil spending in Pennsylvania is $17,884 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Rhode Island:

In Rhode Island, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. Rhode Island parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district to see if this is an option. In some cases, the state provides transportation for students who attend a school outside their city or town. 

The transfer process and timeline will vary by district. For a real-world example, check out North Providence School Department’s guidelines for transfers within the district.

The average per-pupil spending in Rhode Island is $18,366 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Rhode Island Department of Education.

South Carolina:

In South Carolina, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. South Carolina parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district to see if this is an option. As an example, Richland County School District One generally requires students to attend their zoned public school, but does allow for transfers in some cases, such as unique program offerings, childcare needs, and instances of hardship. 

In most cases, parents are in charge of transportation if they choose open enrollment in South Carolina. Also note that, in some cases in South Carolina, districts may charge transfer students fees.

The average per-pupil spending in South Carolina is $12,496 . In 2023, South Carolina passed  a law to make public school enrollment easier  for military families. Find out more about public schools in your state at the South Carolina Department of Education.

South Dakota:

South Dakota has unrestricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that you can send your child to any public school of choice in South Dakota, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. You can take advantage of this option by visiting multiple public schools near you and discovering which is the best fit for your family. 

For an example of the transfer process and timeline, check out Rapid City Area Schools’ guidelines . Generally, parents are responsible for their children’s transportation to a school they’ve selected through open enrollment, but districts can choose to cooperate to provide transportation.

The average per-pupil spending in South Dakota is $10,952 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the South Dakota Department of Education.

Tennessee has more than 1,700 public schools. In Tennessee, a 2021 bill required all school districts to offer an open enrollment period by fall 2022. This expansion of open enrollment means that parents may be able to transfer their child to any public school, regardless of where they live. If more students apply to a school than there is room for, a lottery may determine acceptance.

If you are interested in transferring public schools, contact your local school district for further guidelines.

The average per-pupil spending in Tennessee is $10,507 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Tennessee Department of Education . 

In Texas, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. Parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district to see if this is an option. As an example, Socorro Independent School District allows families to switch schools within the district for qualifying reasons, including afterschool care needs or having a sibling at another school.

Note that if your child attends a school on the Texas Public Education Grant list of poorly-performing schools, you are automatically allowed to request a transfer. 

The average per-pupil spending in Texas is $11,005 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Texas Education Agency.

One Texas public school leader we interviewed, David Knittle of Burbank Middle School, had this to say about public school choice: “There’s one thing I always tell my kids and it’s something that I’m very passionate about. It doesn’t matter what you have, what you don’t have, the color of your skin, what language you speak, where you came from… You can be excellent. That’s what school choice for me means. That students have the opportunity, despite their circumstances on the outside, to be excellent once they walk through these doors.”

Utah has unrestricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that you can send your child to any public school in Utah, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. For a real-world example of the application process and deadlines, check out Salt Lake City School Districts’ open enrollment guidelines.

In Utah, you cannot be charged tuition for being a transfer student. Generally, parents are responsible for transportation to the public school of their choice or to a stop on the district’s bus route . In some cases, the previously assigned school will provide transportation if they are trying to relieve overcrowding.

The average per-pupil spending in Utah is $9,095 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Utah State Board of Education.

Parents, educators, and community members can find education-related data about public schools (such as student proficiency and student growth rates) at Utah State Board of Education’s Data Gateway .

Vermont has unrestricted open enrollment for public high school and transfers for younger grades are widely available as well. What this means is that you may be able to send your child to any public school in Vermont, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. Note that local boards of education may set limits on transfers based on financial impact and capacity.

The average per-pupil spending in Vermont is $23,586 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Vermont Agency of Education.

In Virginia, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. Parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school should contact their local school district to see if this is possible. For example, Albemarle County Public Schools generally requires students to attend their zoned school, but does allow transfers in some cases, such as for medical or emotional health, or because of a family move. In Virginia, while a transfer within your district may be possible, transfers between districts are generally not available.

The average per-pupil spending in Virginia is $13,835 . You can find out more about public schools in your state at the Virginia Department of Education.

Washington:

Washington offers some open enrollment for public school. Based on Washington’s laws, families are able to apply for transfers within their school district. Whether families can choose to transfer between districts will depend on local policies, so check with your school district if you are interested in this option. For a real-world example, check out Lake Washington School District’s transfer forms and guidelines.

Besides traditional schools, Washington also has 14 “ Skill Centers ” that serve high schoolers across multiple school districts who want to gain specialized career training.

The average per-pupil spending in Washington is $15,570 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

West Virginia:

West Virginia expanded its public school open enrollment policies in 2023. Now, West Virginia county boards must establish open enrollment policies and schools cannot charge tuition for transfer students. There are just a few situations in which a transfer request may be denied, such as when there is lack of capacity in the student’s grade level, or when the student has previously been expelled.

If you would like to participate in open enrollment, contact your school district for more details. For a real-world example of an open enrollment application, check out Wayne County Schools’ transfer application form.

The average per-pupil spending in West Virginia is $13,059 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the West Virginia Department of Education.

In Wisconsin, about 8.5% of public school students use public school open enrollment. Based on Wisconsin’s laws, a parent may be able to choose a traditional public school in another district. In some cases, families can participate in open enrollment within a district as well. For example, the School District of La Crosse has an intradistrict application form families can use to request a transfer within the district.

The application window for public school transfers is usually February to April, with another window in late summer for children who have experienced bullying and children who have recently moved to Wisconsin.

Check with your local school district if you wish to participate in open enrollment. Generally, parents are responsible for transporting their child to their public school of choice. But, the school must provide it if a student has a disability. Low-income parents may apply for state reimbursement for transportation costs. Districts are allowed to collaborate to provide transportation, as well.

The average per-pupil spending in Wisconsin is $13,597 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

In Wyoming, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. Parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district to see if this is an option.

As a real-world example, Natrona County Schools offers families a guide with information about curriculum and programming at different schools, and allows families to request their top choice school(s) rather than attend a zoned school. 

The average per-pupil spending in Wyoming is $18,144 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Wyoming Department of Education.

Washington, D.C.

The District of Columbia operates as a single school district . In D.C., families can apply to traditional public schools outside of the school assigned to them. D.C. uses a lottery system called My School DC. Families can apply to up to 12 schools out of nearly all of D.C.’s traditional public schools and public charter schools through the common lottery application. The lottery system then matches open seats with applicants. Nearly three-quarters of students in the district attend a school other than their neighborhood school.

The average per-pupil spending in D.C. is $24,535 . Find out more about public schools in D.C. at the D.C. State Board of Education.

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The information in this guide to public school transfer is designed to help families who are considering public schooling in their decision-making process. Our mission is to provide families with the information they need about all the school options available – traditional public, public charter, public magnet, private, online, and at home – so they can choose the right fit for their child. Read more guides about choosing other types of schools.

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How are students assigned to teachers.

Education researchers have paid a lot of attention to the sorting of teachers across schools. For example, it is well known that schools serving more low-income students tend to employ teachers who are, on average,  less qualified  (in terms of experience, degree, certification, etc.; also see  here ).

Far less well-researched, however, is the issue of sorting  within  schools – for example, whether teachers with certain characteristics are assigned to classes with different students than their colleagues  in the same school . In addition to the obvious fact that which teachers are in front of which students every day is important, this question bears on a few major issues in education policy today. For example, there is  evidence  that teacher turnover is influenced by the characteristics of the students teachers teach, which means that classroom assignments might either exacerbate or mitigate mobility and attrition. In addition, teacher productivity measures such as value-added  may be affected  by the sorting of students into classes based on characteristics for which the models do not account, and a better understanding of the teacher/student matching process could help inform this issue.

A recent  article , which was published in the journal  Sociology of Education , sheds light on these topics with a very interesting look at the distribution of students across teachers' classrooms in Miami-Dade between 2003-04 and 2010-11. The authors’ primary question is: Are certain characteristics, most notably race/ethnicity, gender, experience, or pre-service qualifications (e.g., SAT scores), associated with assignment to higher or lower-scoring students among teachers in the same school, grade, and year?  Although this analysis covers just one district, and focuses on a specific set of student and teacher characteristics, it's a big step forward.

Needless to say, one should not examine the association between student performance and any of these traits in isolation. For one thing, they are all interrelated– e.g., if male teachers, on average, are more experienced than their female colleagues, differences between male and female teachers in the performance of their assigned students may be partially due to the underlying differences in experience (see this 2006  analysis  of within-school sorting in North Carolina). In addition, looking at school- and classroom-level factors, such as student characteristics or accountability pressure, may provide additional insight regarding contextual variation in assignment processes.

Accordingly, the authors of this paper fit multiple models using both administrative and survey data to try and unpack some of these relationships. Theirs is probably the most detailed analysis available on this topic.

In the models using only the administrative dataset (i.e., just race, gender, experience, and degree), they find that less experienced, female and minority teachers are more likely to be assigned to classes with lower-scoring students vis-à-vis more senior, white male colleagues, all else being equal. These results are substantively important and interesting, and have been covered elsewhere (see Stephen Sawchuk's well-done  article ). But there's quite a bit more to these relationships than the "overall" findings.

With regard to the “gender gap” – i.e., the difference in test-based performance between students assigned to male versus female teachers – the estimated discrepancy is really quite small, and basically "disappears" when one accounts for the greater presence of female teachers in special education. In other words, special education students tend to score a bit lower on tests, and female teachers are more likely to specialize in special education; so, when the authors control for this, the small estimated gap is erased (actually, reversed).

Discrepancies between white and minority teachers and between more and less experienced teachers are substantially larger. For instance, on average, black and Hispanic teachers are assigned to classes with more lower-scoring students than are white colleagues teaching in the same school and grade. The magnitude of this difference is educationally meaningful. A large portion of this gap, however, is "explained" by the fact that minority teachers tend to be  assigned more poor and minority students,   and these students tend to score lower than white students from higher-income families (see  this paper  for more on this phenomenon). Controlling for classroom composition reduces the estimated gaps to the point where they're rather modest.

And the differences are further reduced when additional teacher characteristics are added to the model (using the survey dataset), including SAT scores, the selectivity of their undergraduate institutions, and whether teachers ever served in leadership roles. When all these factors are included in the model, assignment differences by teachers’ race/ethnicity are mostly explained away.

Finally, it’s definitely worth noting that these gaps are larger in schools with white (versus minority) principals, and that lower-scoring students are more likely to be assigned to black teachers who work in schools with a larger proportion of white teachers.

The findings for experience require similar disentangling. The relationship between years of service and student performance is positive – i.e., on average, higher-scoring students are assigned to more senior teachers. Some experience-based gap persists in basically every specification the authors report, but it does vary in magnitude.

Teachers with between 2-7 years of experience in the district are assigned students who, on the whole, do not score discernibly higher than those assigned to first-year teachers. By contrast, the scores of students assigned to teachers with between 10-20 years on the job tend to be substantially higher vis-à-vis the students of first-year teachers, even when the relationship is modeled as non-linear, and also when the researchers follow the same teachers over time to see if the associations are “real” and not just a result of differential attrition. This is consistent with the limited prior research on within-school sorting – e.g., this  analysis  of data from Florida and this  study , which uses a nationally-representative dataset.

There are three interesting notes about these experience-based gaps. First, they are not larger in middle and high schools compared with elementary schools, which is counterintuitive insofar as “tracking” is generally seen as more prevalent in the former versus the latter. Second, the relationship between experience and student performance is significantly stronger in schools with more senior teachers, but weaker in schools where larger proportions of students are not proficient (i.e., those that may be experiencing accountability pressure, which may influence classroom assignments). Third, there is some indication in the results that experience in the district is less important than how long teachers have served  in their specific school .

So, overall, there does appear to be systematic sorting of teachers within schools by measurable characteristics such as gender, race/ethnicity and experience (as well as, by the way, whether or not teachers have ever served as a professional development instructor and the selectivity of their undergraduate colleges).

This analysis is descriptive, and there are a variety of possible ways to explain or interpret its many findings. On the whole, there appears to be a rather complicated web of factors underlying teacher assignment, including teacher, principal and school characteristics. In other words, teachers and principals (and, in many cases, perhaps parents as well) consider a bunch of different factors when sorting students into classes, and this process also varies by context (e.g., by school).

For instance, as the authors note, the fact that more senior teachers are given classes with higher-scoring students may indicate that advanced students are being assigned to teachers with the stronger content knowledge necessary to teach advanced classes, whereas, in other cases, it may be a result of teachers accruing influence and building relationships as they spend more years in the same school.

In any case, efforts to understand what’s going on with classroom assignments bear directly on issues, such as teacher turnover and the use of value-added estimates in evaluations and other personnel policies. As just one example, the fact that novice teachers tend to be assigned lower-scoring students may exacerbate new teacher attrition and mobility. Analyses such as this one are therefore important, and will hopefully spur further examination, especially given the fact that new evaluations and other policies (e.g., ramping up school accountability systems) may influence the teacher/student matching process going forward.

- Matt Di Carlo

More than 100 out-of-city officers assisted Scottsdale police at chaotic WM Phoenix Open

At least a dozen law enforcement agencies sent more than 100 officers to assist Scottsdale with public safety services at this year's WM Phoenix Open, where large crowds , soggy conditions and alcohol spelled trouble for event organizers.

Massive weekend crowds were unable to spread out on the grass banks around the course given the muddy conditions, creating such congestion that the gates were closed Saturday to afternoon ticketholders.

Alcohol fueled the heckling of players and other bad behavior during the four-day tournament.

Scottsdale police arrested a record 54 people, tripling the number from the previous year. And 211 fans were ejected from the event, which is more than twice the amount thrown out during the past two Opens.

There were widespread reports of fans entering without tickets being checked or scanned, in an attempt to unclog the main entrance.

Tournament chair George Thimsen, in an interview with Golfweek Thursday, said organizers would review this year's event as they planned next year's tournament, and crowd size would be reviewed.

"I would say that likely there will be less people on a Friday and a Saturday at our event and that we would focus on quality over quantity," he said.

He acknowledged "a lot of humans" at the event but did not characterize conditions as unsafe.

"That's because of the hard work of our first responders and law enforcement and volunteers," he said. "There may have been some frustrated fans ... But at the end of the day, I think it (closing the gates) was the right call, and it was a successful event.

"Fron a safety perspective, there wasn't a lot of major issues, and we feel thankful and blessed for that." 

He said, "We have, you know, our PD all over ... the course and supporting throughout the tournament." He did say he expected a stronger police presence next year, "especially from a player perspective."

Scottsdale police coordinate efforts with other Phoenix area departments to provide security. Pro Em is the company that provides event management and security staff at the tournament.

It remains unclear what the overall total number of officers was at the event or how that stacks up to previous years, but Scottsdale Police Department spokesperson Aaron Bolin said it "was staffed very similarly to every other year we have done it.

"This event is planned so well in advance and we have a ton of historical data as we staff it each year," Bolin said, "We do have, according to our models and according to what has worked for us in the past, adequate staffing."

The Arizona Republic asked 14 local law enforcement agencies how many officers and other resources they provided at the Open.

Scottsdale police declined to specify. "We do not want people with bad intentions to know how many officers and resources are staffed and working at the event.  We don’t discuss it for security reasons," Sgt. Allison Sempsis said.

Peoria and Mesa police did not immediately provide an answer. But 11 other departments confirmed they sent officers to the tournament.

  • Tempe: Sent approximately 50 officers between Wednesday and Saturday to provide "support" for the event. The department said the number of its officers assigned this year was lower than usual because of other events.
  • Arizona Department of Public Safety : Sent about 30 off-duty troopers. The department was unable to provide the number of troopers it sent during previous years.
  • Chandler: Sent about a dozen officers to provide support on bicycles.
  • Surprise: Sent four bicycle officers who worked with Scottsdale's bike team but provided no enforcement on "incidents that result in charges."
  • Gilbert: Had about 12 officers on bike teams and night traffic units. The department had a more limited presence at the open than usual because of officers' regular shifts on Thursday through Saturday.
  • Apache Junction: Sent six officers who assisted Scottsdale police and the private security company.
  • Arizona State University Police: Sent four officers from Wednesday to Saturday.
  • Queen Creek and Goodyear: Sent one and two dog units to the Open, respectively. Goodyear's unit did explosive sweeps every morning.
  • Phoenix police and Maricopa County Sheriff's Office : Only sent deputies and officers to the "Know Your Limit" event on Friday and Saturday to highlight the effects of alcohol consumption. The agencies provided no enforcement.

The staffing models the Scottsdale department uses involve a lighter police presence on Tuesday and Wednesday for pre-tournament events, when Pro Em is mostly able to manage the crowds, Bolin said.

Thursday through Saturday is when law enforcement agencies ramp up their efforts as more fans arrive.

Bolin said security at the tournament is so well done, Scottsdale police "have outside police agencies and event coordinators actually come to our tournament, in particular, to see how we do it and how we are successful." He noted that a team of police officers from Sweden previously had visited to learn from the Phoenix Open's practices.

Some of the chaotic fan behavior was a matter for Pro Em security rather than the police, Bolin said. An increased police presence or different law enforcement model would not have made much of a difference when it came to constraining some of that, he said.

"I'm not really sure that a different staffing model would have solved any of the issues that were out there, that people are posting about, people sliding down hills, things like that. Just because something isn't golf etiquette, or it's ... raucous behavior doesn't necessarily mean it's against the law."

Reporter Sam Kmack covers Tempe, Scottsdale and Chandler.   Follow him on X  @KmackSam   or reach him at  [email protected] .

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Teacher assigned students to write ‘ways to kill’ a classmate

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The incident happened at Crestwood Middle School in Chesapeake, Virginia in January 2022 (

A middle school teacher has been arrested after giving her students an assignment to write about killing a classmate.

The assignment directed students to come up with ‘ways to kill’ one particular pupil within the English class at Crestwood Middle School in Chesapeake, Virginia, according to court records obtained by WTKR on Wednesday.

It was a student’s idea, but the teacher ran with it, the documents state. The students proceeded to work on the assignment on their tablets.

The students’ ideas for killing the student included burning him alive, chopping him, throwing him out the window and giving him to a dog to eat, per the records.

The teacher in Chesapeake, Virginia, surrendered his teaching license

On that night in January 2022, the boy shared the assignment with his parents, who informed authorities.

Questioned on the incident, the teacher explained that the student who was the subject of the assignment did not seem upset by it. The teacher added that it was difficult to engage the students, but admitted that the assignment was not appropriate and should not have been carried out.

The teacher has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of contributing to a minor’s delinquency.

Beside being arrested, the teacher surrendered his license to instruct. He has not been identified.

The teacher was employed at the middle school from August 2020 to April 2022, according to the Chesapeake School District.

‘Our practice is that we do not comment further on such situations involving personnel,’ stated the school district.

‘The safety of our students is our top priority, and Chesapeake Public Schools expects all employees to act with the utmost professionalism to provide a positive learning environment for all students.’

He was let go more than a year before a kindergartner wrote a story in class about her mother firing a gun in a fight with her father. The teacher at Donelson Elementary School in Arlington, Tennessee, reported possible child abuse, which led to the mother’s arrest.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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Covering Innovation & Inequality in Education

The learning experience is different in schools that assign laptops, a survey finds

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More than twice as many principals in 2017 said students in their schools were assigned some type of mobile device, like a laptop or tablet, than in 2015. That’s according to the Speak Up Research Project for Digital Learning, which found that 60 percent of principals who responded to its latest survey say they assign these devices, compared with 27 percent two years earlier.

So what does that mean for classrooms? The Speak Up survey, a national initiative of Project Tomorrow, an education-focused nonprofit, also reached almost 341,000 students in 2017, and it found some distinct differences in what students with and without mobile devices said they did in school.

High schoolers assigned a laptop or a Chromebook were more likely to take notes in class, do internet research, create documents to share, collaborate with their peers on projects, check their grades and get reminders about tests or homework due dates. Among high school students assigned these devices, 60 percent said they had emailed their teachers with questions. That’s compared to 42 percent among students without an assigned device.

In focus groups, students explained that emailing their teachers was somewhat of an anxiety release, said Julie Evans, Speak Up’s CEO and the author of a brief about the findings .

“It isn’t as if they need the teacher to respond to them in that moment,” Evans said. “It’s more that they want to share the problem with someone.” And when they go to class the next day, they can arrive knowing their teacher is already aware of the problem.

Most high schoolers have a way to send an email from home, whether it’s from a smartphone or a family computer. But students with assigned devices from their schools are more likely to actually draft those emails and hit send.

Evans said sending those emails indicates students are independent learners who have the benefit of a school support system. She connected it to the portion of students who get electronic reminders about tests and homework due dates. Among high schoolers with assigned laptops or Chromebooks, 53 percent get those electronic reminders, compared with 39 percent of students who don’t have school-assigned devices, the survey found.

“The student can be responsible for their own learning and feel good about being responsible for their own learning,” Evans said. This can make students more confident in their own capabilities and perhaps create an environment where they are more willing to take educational risks, she said.

Schools that distribute mobile devices to students more often lay this foundation, the survey shows. They also give students chances to collaborate with their peers on projects. Nearly half of high schoolers with an assigned laptop or Chromebook say they get to do this, while just one-third of high schoolers without those assigned devices say the same.

In focus groups, students say they really like the idea of peer-to-peer learning, Evans said. Sometimes teachers can’t explain things in ways they understand. Their peers can fill in the gaps.

Schools that distribute mobile devices to all students seem to create opportunities for this type of work more than schools that don’t. It’s not that a 1:1 student-to-device ratio necessarily means more group work for students or better peer leadership. But technology can help facilitate these classroom experiences, Evans said.

Still, Evans, who has been asking about how technology is used for learning inside and outside of school through 15 years of Speak Up surveys, emphasizes that the technology is only a contributing factor.

“Just like anything else, it has to be supported well, and it has to be in the right hands and the teachers have to be really effective,” she said.

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schools with assigned

IMAGES

  1. As charter schools multiply, teachers at traditional public schools

    schools with assigned

  2. NC schools assigned A through F grades on student results

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  3. Parenting Students with School-Assigned Devices

    schools with assigned

  4. How can design help minimise Student Stress in the Classroom?

    schools with assigned

  5. Vuzamanzi Public Primary School Address & Contact Details

    schools with assigned

  6. Education Ministry issues special announcement for teachers assigned to

    schools with assigned

COMMENTS

  1. Find Your School District and Nearby Schools

    Find Your School District and Nearby Schools | District Boundary Map | GreatSchools Nearby homes for sale Districts School Grade Elementary Middle Additional school type Charter Private See what school district you are in by providing your zip code or address in our interactive map.

  2. Find My School

    Find My School is a free online tool that helps you locate and compare the best schools in your area. Whether you are looking for public, private, charter, or magnet schools, you can search by address, zip code, or city and get detailed information on each school's performance, demographics, and programs. Find My School also provides reviews and ratings from parents and students, as well as ...

  3. School Boundaries & Assignments

    An assigned school serves all students from its assigned attendance area who wish to enroll there. Intradistrict/School Choice, where seats are available, and Alternative Schools provide choices for students who wish to enroll in a school other than their assigned neighborhood school.

  4. Find Schools Near You

    Find out what school district you are in and what school you are zoned for by exploring our school boundary maps. Note: School map boundaries may have changed for the current school year so please contact your school district to verify school assignment for your child.

  5. School choice: what are your options?

    Charter schools are public schools that are liberated from some of the traditional school regulations required by the state. These schools are bound by charter agreements granted by local school boards. If they don't meet the requirements of their charter, they can be shut down.

  6. Acmetonia students build sense of belonging, community with new program

    Students at Acmetonia Elementary School not only have homework, they also have house work. Under the "House System," students are assigned to one of five groups, or houses. House ...

  7. Texas School Assigned Students to Review Sexually Explicit Books

    A high school principal in Texas slow-walked a review of nearly 200 books in the school library that parents flagged for sexually explicit material, setting a timetable of 22 years to reconsider ...

  8. Search for Public Schools

    The CCD School Locator was created to enable the public to find the correct name, address, telephone number, NCES ID number, urbanicity (rural, large city, etc.), and other student and teacher information for public schools as reported to NCES by state education officials in each state.

  9. How Satisfied are Parents with Their Children's Schools?

    The assigned-school-district sector has a strong competitive advantage because assigned-district schools are free and universally available, and 76 percent of American students attend them, according to a 2012 survey by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education. ...

  10. How to search for schools by address

    Assigned schools will be highlighted in blue at the top of your search results. Alternatively, if you want to find out what school district an address is in, you can use our School District Boundary Map: The left search field allows you to search by school name or narrow your results by school type or level. The right search field allows...

  11. What School Choice Is and How it Works

    The most common forms of private school choice are Education Savings Accounts, vouchers and tax-credit scholarships. EdChoice is currently tracking over 125 bills related to private school choice ...

  12. Wisconsin School Breaks Up Lunchtime Cliques With Assigned Seating

    The school is trying to take anxiety out of the lunchroom experience. It has assigned seating with a teacher at each table. Officials say it improves school culture. Others aren't so sure.

  13. SchoolDigger

    Start here to find a great school anywhere in the U.S.! Nearby (GPS) or Or select a state... Quick links.... Find the best elementary, middle, and high schools. Search for schools near any address, compare test scores, sort by school rank, class sizes, and more.

  14. Should Schools Assign Seats at Lunch?

    Yes! Kids should have assigned seats. I've seen people save seats and tell other kids, "Someone is sitting here.". That can be mean. The other kids have to keep looking for seats, which can be embarrassing. Plus, there are groups of kids who get in trouble all the time. Some make fun of other kids. Lunch would be much better for everyone ...

  15. Find exact school district assignment info for any US home

    For 55 percent of U.S. school districts, the search tool also supplies the school assignment for a home address, with a filter for elementary, middle and high schools, along with the assigned ...

  16. How Colleges Choose Which Students to Admit

    According to a 2019 report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the top factors for admissions are overall high school GPA, grades in Advanced Placement or other college ...

  17. Guide to Public School Transfer (Open Enrollment)

    Most students who attend traditional public schools are assigned to attend these schools by school district officials - based on school boundary maps and zoning. These schools are tuition-free and must accept all students, regardless of their previous academic performance or special learning needs.

  18. How Are Students Assigned To Teachers?

    Far less well-researched, however, is the issue of sorting within schools - for example, whether teachers with certain characteristics are assigned to classes with different students than their colleagues in the same school.

  19. Student Assignment Plan

    The Student Assignment Transition Plan for 2021-22 was approved by the Seattle School Board on January 27, 2021. The Student Assignment Transition Plan for 2021-22 continues most of the assignment rules in effect during 2020-21. A summary of the changes is below. For 2021-22 the amendment that put a hold on new assignments to Mercer ...

  20. Search For Schools and Colleges

    To find an NCES ID for public schools, private schools, or colleges click on the name of the institution in the search results. By default, search results are sorted by name within institution, however, you may select to sort by state or city. To find information about Public Libraries, please visit. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

  21. At least 100 out-of-city police officers worked WM Phoenix Open

    The department said the number of its officers assigned this year was lower than usual because of other events. Arizona Department of Public Safety : Sent about 30 off-duty troopers.

  22. Are top-ranked colleges really the best? Depends. At what?

    Understanding each school's equalizing effect requires a "really close measurement" of its influence on these students and their peers, she said. Ciocca Eller's data analysis showed that nine of the 11 colleges in her study produced strong equalizing effects. That means the schools narrowed degree-completion gaps between students from ...

  23. Teacher assigned students to write 'ways to kill' a classmate

    The incident happened at Crestwood Middle School in Chesapeake, Virginia in January 2022 (Credits: Christophe Bayle) A middle school teacher has been arrested after giving her students an ...

  24. As more schools assign laptops, students say they learn differently

    Among high schoolers with assigned laptops or Chromebooks, 53 percent get those electronic reminders, compared with 39 percent of students who don't have school-assigned devices, the survey found. "The student can be responsible for their own learning and feel good about being responsible for their own learning," Evans said.

  25. Batch pool with user assigned Managed Identity and Key Vault extension

    A user assigned Managed Identity (The msiClientId in ARM template and REST API payload is the client ID of this Managed Identity) Assign enough permission to get the certificate from Key Vault on the user assigned Managed Identity (You can also use RBAC assignment to allow permission in Key Vault) Reminder:

  26. PDF February

    Seats are limited and assigned on a first-come/first-served basis. Dates and times are subject to change. Before traveling to your exam, please visit our website for the most up-to-date schedule. ALBANY - ALBANY COUNTY (Alfred E. Smith State Office . Building)

  27. Changes to Student Assignment for Elementary Schools

    The effective date of the new student assignment policy for elementary schools has been extended by one year to 2025-2026. This was announced at the April 28 Ad Hoc Committee on Student Assignment. READ MORE We believe that students are best served in learning environments that are racially and socioeconomically integrated.

  28. Assigned cafeteria seating can improve school culture

    Assigned seating eliminates the struggle of trying to fit in or feeling left out during the most crucial social hour of the school day — lunch. University School of Milwaukee practices this unique tradition by assigning students from varying grades to circular tables monitored by teachers, NPR reports. Though the forced polite table talk can ...

  29. 15 Online Programs With the Most Faculty of Color

    Collectively, an average of 71% of faculty members were white at the 197 ranked schools offering online bachelor's degrees that submitted this data to U.S. News in an annual survey for the 2023 ...