NJ Spotlight published the following article on 2/20/2014. To read the full article, click here.

NJ Schools Press Lawmakers to Ease Restrictions on Interdistrict Choice

John Mooney | February 20, 2014

On the eve of the unveiling of the next state budget, advocates for New Jersey’s interdistrict choice program are stepping up their campaign to fight off state-imposed enrollment caps on the increasingly popular program – and winning some high-level support.

The association that represents the 130-plus districts in the program, which allows them to take in students from outside their borders, has been pressing legislators for help in easing the state edict issued last fall that limited the districts to no more than 5 percent increase in enrollment.

The state Department of Education said it was about the money, with state funding for the program ballooning in the last three years to nearly $50 million for the 5,000 students enrolled this year.

Supporters note that some districts have come to depend on the choice program and the state money that comes with it. Some of them have set up programs – and even purchased facilities — specifically to help attract outside students. Because of the 5 percent cap, some districts are left with available seats they’re not allowed to fill.

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