Open enrollment: The most popular public education choice option

Imagine being assigned to a grocery store based on your zip code. Would you be able to find all the products you need at the right price? How would the grocery store adjust its pricing and offerings if it knew you didn’t have any other choice? This is the dilemma public school families often face – a situation wherein a quality school and equal opportunity can simply depend on where you live.

For decades, millions of American children have been assigned to a public school. Those who live in neighborhood A, for example, must go to school A. The reasons for this were, initially, easy to understand – transportation ease and neighborhood cohesion were thought to be part of the equation. But policies of racial discrimination were also at play.

There are two kinds of open enrollment policies – intradistrict and interdistrict. The first, intradistrict, allows families to transfer to a different school, but only within the same school district. The second policy, interdistrict, allows families to transfer to any school within the state, regardless of district. Currently, 43 states have an open enrollment policy, but they can vary wildly. Some may be voluntary; others may choose a limited number of students who qualify.

Some states use open enrollment for students who face geographic challenges, while others use open enrollment as a means for school integration.

Unfortunately, there has also been a dark side to assigning children to schools based on neighborhood or zip code – segregation. In the early 1900s, the federal government adopted a practice known as “redlining,” which based the approval of federally backed home loans on the economic well-being of a neighborhood.

Congress reversed the policy some 50 years later, but the ripple effects were enormous, and in many states, there was a strong correlation between the redlining maps, and a school district’s boundaries.

Since the COVID lockdowns, and even before, families in every state have been asking for more education options. Recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work, more than 30 states have expanded choice programs. Education choice can mean various things, including attendance at a public school you may choose, a private school, homeschooling, magnet schools, charter schools and more.

Idaho, Montana and Wyoming have recently passed choice expansions to include tax credits and education savings accounts (ESA’s). Polling shows both options are popular. But the most popular form of public education choice is open enrollment.

Polling completed by the Yes, Every Kid Foundation shows more than 60% support for ending a federal requirement that students be assigned to the public school closest to them. Other polling has shown support in the mid to high 70s.

Idaho has one of the strongest open enrollment laws in the nation. The Public Schools Without Boundaries report gives Idaho a ranking of second among the 50 states. In particular, researchers give the Gem State high marks for its cross-district enrollment and within-district enrollment. School districts are required to post capacity by grade level and all policies regarding open enrollment on their website.

Washington state receives poor marks for its open enrollment policies. While the state allows for limited cross-district open enrollment, it allows districts to reject transfers for various reasons, including a student’s ability or disability. Furthermore, districts are not required to provide the public with information about cross-district enrollment – citizens must ask for it first.

Montana’s open enrollment policy has improved but could still use adjustments. The Montana State Legislature adopted a cross-district open enrollment plan in 2023 and required that school districts could only reject students for limited reasons, such as truancy or disciplinary reasons. Unfortunately, Montana does not require school districts to post anything about open enrollment policies on their websites. Furthermore, school districts are not required to adopt within-district open enrollment policies.

Wyoming receives low marks for its open enrollment policies. While school districts are allowed to have cross-district open enrollment, the state doesn’t require it. Furthermore, cross-district enrollment is only allowed if a school district’s Board of Trustees approves. The state does not require any information about open enrollment on school district websites, and districts can even charge transfer students for tuition.

Even states with the best open enrollment policies can improve their policies and transparency, thereby making it easier for children to access a quality education.

Public schools are very much part of education choice. Most families are satisfied with the performance of their local schools. But not every child is the same, and families must have the opportunity to seek other options. Open enrollment is a popular form of public education choice that is supported by those on the left and the right. Children should not be assigned to a school simply based on where they live, but rather whether that school offers the best opportunity for them to succeed.

As states seek to innovate and improve public schools, open enrollment for all children must be at the top of the list of policy reforms. And transparency regarding a state’s open enrollment policies should be paramount.