The Interdistrict Public School Choice Program is a program designed to expand educational choices for New Jersey students by providing them with the option of attending a school district outside their district of residence without cost to their parents and paid for by the state of New Jersey. Districts must apply to participate and must designate open seats by grade where they will accept non-resident students. Each year the New Jersey Department of Education selects the choice districts from those districts that have submitted an application. For 2014-15 there will be 136 participating districts.
As the program has grown in enrollment, so have its costs. What was a $9.8 million expense in 2010-11 grew into a $49 million expense by 2013-14. In the fall of 2013, facing a tight state budget, the Christie Administration capped enrollment growth at 5% for the next year. Advocates for Interdistrict Choice objected, with Mila Jasey calling the cap "ill-advised and short-sighted," but the cap has been allowed to stay in place.
Participating school districts
- Atlantic County
- Folsom Borough School District at Folsom Elementary School
- Bergen County
- Englewood Public School District at Dwight Morrow High School
- Burlington County
- Washington Township School District at Green Bank Elementary School
- Camden County
- Brooklawn Public School District
- Cape May County
- Lower Township School District
- Cumberland County
- Cumberland Regional High School
- Gloucester County
- South Harrison Township School District
- Hudson County
- Hoboken Public Schools
- Hunterdon County
- Bloomsbury School District
- Monmouth County
- Upper Freehold Regional School District at Allentown High School
- Morris County
- Mine Hill School District
- Ocean County
- Stafford Township School District
- Passaic County
- Manchester Regional High School
- Salem County
- Salem City School District
- Union County
- David Brearley High School, as part of the Kenilworth Public Schools
References
External links
- Interdistrict Public School Choice Program
