Monday, June 19, 2017

“For a lot of kids it’s a fresh start”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Facing steadily rising costs to educate students each year, several MetroWest and Milford-area school systems are using school choice money to make upgrades and prevent cuts to programs and staff. 
Public school districts can vote to accept students from outside their district under the state’s school choice program. A student’s home district pays the receiving district a tuition – typically about $5,000 – each year a student is enrolled in the receiving system. Districts that enroll in school choice can limit the number of students they want to accept each year and into which grades, but cannot remove a student once he or she joins. 
Holliston has been a staple in the program since it was created in 1991 and has drawn several out-of-district students the past several years due, in part, to the district’s French immersion classes, Montessori education and small class sizes, said Superintendent Brad Jackson. 
“Some students and families are looking for a more intimate and small school district,” he said. “Others are just seeking a change in venue.”


Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170618/school-choice-helps-some-districts-make-improvements-avoid-cuts

While not covered by the article, Franklin used to use school choice but the School Committee has voted not to use school choice. The decision was based upon the class size. When school choice is opened, students can come into any grade and then the district is committed to serve them until their leave or graduate. While the funds provided would be nice, there wasn't sufficient capacity to provide for the option. If I recall correctly, the district peaked at about 70 students and the school choice enrollment has declined over the years to less than a dozen or so.

Milford Daily News article from 2013
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/we-strategically-add-seats.html

The article from 2013 includes a table on the school choice enrollment from the 2003-2004 school year through 2013
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/franklin-public-schools-school-choice.html

School Committee decision in 2016
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/04/real-time-reporting-school-committee.html

School Committee agenda for March 2017
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/03/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda_28.html

Parmenter school sign
Parmenter school sign

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