Graduation season marks a significant milestone for millions of parents as their children embark on various paths towards adulthood, whether it’s pursuing higher education, entering the workforce, vocational programs, or joining the military. However, navigating the educational landscape can be challenging, particularly due to state policies that limit education options. A recent report by Halli Faulkner, published by yes. every kid., highlights three key policies states can adopt to empower parents in accessing the best public schools for their children.
Many states currently assign public school enrollment based on residential addresses, which can be restrictive and often does not align with families’ preferences or needs. Factors such as housing affordability, job locations, and proximity to family and friends can influence where people live, making it difficult to access desired schools. To address these challenges, the report proposes three crucial policy changes.
Firstly, states should enact laws that prohibit discrimination based on residential address. This policy would prevent school districts from denying enrollment based solely on a family’s address, ensuring fair access to all public schools. Idaho has already implemented such a policy, setting an example for other states to follow.
Secondly, states should decriminalize address sharing. Incidents like the case of Kelley Williams-Bolar, who faced legal repercussions for using her father’s address to enroll her daughters in school, highlight the need to reconsider punitive measures for such actions. Criminalizing address sharing only adds unnecessary barriers for families seeking better educational opportunities for their children.
Lastly, states should introduce mandatory open enrollment policies. These policies would allow parents to choose any public school within the state, regardless of their residential location, as long as there is available capacity. Sixteen states, including Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, have already implemented mandatory open enrollment, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of parental choice in education.
Despite concerns about school capacity, the report argues that government entities should respond to parents’ demands for quality education by expanding school infrastructure and accommodating increased enrollment. This proactive approach aligns with taxpayers’ expectations of accessible and high-quality public education for all children.
Overall, the report underscores the widespread support for policies that empower parents in selecting the best public schools for their children. By enacting mandatory open enrollment, prohibiting address discrimination, and ending the criminalization of address sharing, states can ensure that every parent has equal opportunities to access quality education for their children, regardless of where they live.